By Jude Opara
A former interim-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande, has accused the “Obedient,” a movement for the political ambition of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, of spearheading the #EndSARS protest to stop President Bola Tinubu during the last election.
Recall that the #EndSARS protests held nationwide in August 2020, with many youths taking to the street to call for the proscription of the notorious unit in the Nigeria Police Force; Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), known for its abuse, assaulting, extorting and killing of Nigerians especially youths.
The protests drew global attention to the excesses of the rogue SARS.
He spoke on a programme, “State Affairs with Edmund Obilo,’’ posted on YouTube.
Mr Akande alleged that the nationwide protests by youths were “manufactured” by the Obident movement in the United States.
He said, “EndSARS was aimed and designed to be the end of Tinubu. Those behind it knew what they were doing. The Obedients were behind the EndSARS. Yes, it was manufactured from America and brought in just to stop him (Tinubu].’’
Mr Akande stated further that the #EndSARS was well organised with a lot of money from the U.S.
He added that the plot, which later became a movement that supported Mr Obi’s ambition on the platform of the LP, was initially meant to metamorphose into a political party but failed to achieve its aim.
He stated, “The Obidients came from America to do #EndSARS, which later became a movement. They could not form a party, so they joined whichever party. It was well planned and organised with a lot of money from America.”
He also said that he beckoned on Mr Tinubu to throw his hat into the ring despite being reluctant to join the presidential race due to financial challenges.
He added, “When I met him (Tinubu), he said, ‘Baba, do you have money? If I had the kind of money that people have to be president, I would rank with Dangote.’ People called me and said, ‘Come, there is trouble. Anybody that talks to him about the presidency, he was quarrelling with them.’ So, I went to Lagos and met him.’’
