‘It Is Unfortunate Akande Would Suggest Obidient Movement Was Behind #EndSARS Protests’ – Peter Obi’s Aide

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized former Osun State governor, Bisi Akande, for alleging that the #EndSARS protest in 2020 was orchestrated by his supporters, the Obidient Movement, to derail the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu.

Obi described Akande’s claim as an attempt to rewrite history, insisting that the #EndSARS movement was a genuine call for justice and good governance.

Reacting to the former governor’s remarks, Obi condemned what he called a deliberate distortion of facts, stating that Akande’s assertion was insensitive to the memory of the protest victims.

He further stressed that attempts to politicize the movement would not erase the sacrifices of those who stood against police brutality.

In a recent podcast interview with broadcaster Edmund Obilo, Bisi Akande alleged that the Obidients funded the protest with foreign donations to frustrate Tinubu’s presidential ambition.

According to Akande, the protests were politically motivated, adding that they were staged to weaken Tinubu’s influence ahead of the 2023 elections.

The #EndSARS protests, which began on October 7, 2020, initially focused on the demand for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) but later expanded into a call for good governance across Nigeria.

Naija News reports that the protest ended in tragedy on October 20, 2020, when soldiers allegedly opened fire on peaceful demonstrators at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.

Akande said, “The Obidients were behind the #EndSARS. It was manufactured in America and brought in just to stop him (Tinubu). I said the Obidients, I didn’t say Obi.

“They came from America to do the #EndSARS and later became a movement to form a party. They couldn’t form a party. It was well planned and organised with a lot of money from America.”

But in an interview with Punch on Thursday, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, tackled Akande, describing his claims as misleading and insensitive to the people who died during the protest.

He said, “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, who are 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 further polarise our society.”

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, also described Akande’s narrative as an insult to the memory of all #EndSARS victims, particularly those who lost their lives.

He said, “The Obidient movement outright rejects the baseless and revisionist claim by former Governor Bisi Akande. His false narrative is not only an insult to the memory of the young Nigerians who lost their lives in the fight against police brutality but also a desperate attempt to rewrite history and shift blame for the government’s failures.

“#EndSARS was a decentralised, youth-led movement demanding an end to police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and systemic oppression in Nigeria. It was not about politics, nor was it about any single individual’s presidential ambition.

“Rather than engaging in revisionist propaganda, we urge Akande and his associates to focus on addressing the real issues facing Nigerians today — economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, and bad governance. The people are suffering, and no amount of misinformation or historical distortion will change that reality.”