#EndSARS Protest: Obi Replies Bisi Akande’s Allegations

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized ex-Osun State governor Bisi Akande for alleging that the 2020 #EndSARS protest was orchestrated by Obi’s supporters, known as the Obidient Movement, to derail President Bola Tinubu’s political ambitions. Obi and members of the Obidient Movement dismissed Akande’s claims as an attempt to rewrite history, calling them insensitive to the memory of victims who lost their lives during the protests.

The #EndSARS demonstrations, which took place between October 7 and 20, 2020, began as a call to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) due to allegations of police brutality. However, it quickly evolved into a broader demand for good governance. The protests led to clashes with security forces, particularly in Lagos, where soldiers allegedly opened fire on peaceful demonstrators at the Lekki Tollgate.

Speaking in a recent podcast hosted by broadcaster Edmund Obilo, Akande claimed the protest was orchestrated by Obidients and funded with foreign donations to block Tinubu’s presidential bid. “The Obidients were behind #EndSARS. It was manufactured in America and brought in just to stop him (Tinubu). They came from America to do the #EndSARS and later became a movement to form a party. It was well planned and organized with a lot of money from America,” he said.

In response, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, dismissed Akande’s statements as misleading and divisive. “It is unfortunate that Akande would suggest 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. The Obidient Movement is a grassroots phenomenon focused on good governance, accountability, and inclusive development,” Ibrahim said. He emphasized that #EndSARS was a spontaneous youth-led movement against police brutality, corruption, and economic hardship, urging Akande to avoid unsubstantiated claims that could deepen societal divisions.

Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, condemned Akande’s narrative as an insult to #EndSARS victims. “His false narrative is not only an insult to the memory of young Nigerians who lost their lives fighting police brutality but also a desperate attempt to rewrite history and shift blame for government failures,” Yunusa stated. He urged Akande to focus on addressing real issues like economic hardship, insecurity, and unemployment rather than engaging in “revisionist propaganda.”