Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has strongly criticized former Osun State Governor Bisi Akande’s recent claims that Obi’s supporters (Obidients) orchestrated the #EndSARS protest to derail President Bola Tinubu’s ambitions.
Obi’s camp denounced Akande’s allegations, calling them a revisionist attempt to distort history and insensitive to the memory of the #EndSARS victims, particularly those who lost their lives during the protests.
The #EndSARS protest, which took place in October 2020, began as a movement against police brutality and expanded to broader demands for good governance.
The protests turned violent, with reports of military personnel firing on unarmed demonstrators at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.
In an interview, Akande claimed that the #EndSARS protests were funded by foreign donations and orchestrated by Obidients to hinder Tinubu’s presidential campaign.
He also suggested that the movement was intended to form a political party but failed to do so.
However, Obi’s spokesperson, Umar Ibrahim, dismissed these claims as misleading and divisive, stating that the #EndSARS protests were a grassroots response to police brutality, not politically motivated.
Tanko Yunusa, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, condemned Akande’s narrative as disrespectful to the #EndSARS victims and called for a focus on addressing Nigeria’s pressing issues like economic hardship and poor governance rather than spreading false claims.
“The allegations are not only misleading but also divisive. It is unfortunate Akande would suggest that the Obidient Movement was behind the #EndSARS protests, and even more astonishing that he would imply it was orchestrated to prevent a particular individual from becoming President.
“Well, let me be clear, the movement is a grassroots phenomenon that emerged organically, driven by the passion and dedication of Nigerians who are committed to creating a better future for our country.
“It’s a movement that transcends partisan politics and is focused on promoting good governance, accountability, and inclusive development.
“The #EndSARS protests, on the other hand, were a spontaneous response to the widespread discontent and frustration among Nigerian youth regarding issues of police brutality, corruption, and economic inequality.
It’s a testament to the resilience and determination of our young people, demanding a more just and equitable society.
“To conflate these two distinct phenomena is not only inaccurate but also unfair to the millions of Nigerians who are genuinely committed to creating positive change.
“We urge former governor Akande to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims that can only serve to polarise our society further.”
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