DR. YUNUSA TANKO is the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide. In this interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he speaks on allegation by Chief Bisi Akande, a former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), linking the movement to the #EndSARS protest of 2020, possible coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 general elections and other issues. Excerpts:
What was your reaction when you heard the interview granted by former governor of Osun state, Chief Bisi Akande accusing the Obidient Movement of instigating the #EndSARS protest to stop Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from becoming president?
It is a misplaced priority for a statesman for him not to have done his research and due diligence as regards the root cause of the #EndSARS protest. The protest has nothing to do with the Obidient Movement. It can never be associated with us in anyway. In fact, the Obidient Movement was completely independent of the false allegation. Many panels were set up by the federal and state governments to unravel the remote, immediate and aftermath of the #EndSARS protest and not a single one mentioned the Obidient movement.The #EndSARS protest, which lasted between October 7 and 20, began with the demand for the disbandment of the notorious police wing called Special Anti-Robbery Squad but soon snowballed into a demand for good governance. The truth of the matter is that the Nigerian youths who were tired of the level of misgovernance and the brazen extortion that was being perpetrated by the police and at the Lekki Toll Gate was what ignited many of them to come out and protest against the heinous crimes and level of disdain they are being subjected to. The #EndSARS protest involved every Nigerian youths, irrespective of whatever political party or ideology that you believed in. #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.
History cannot be distorted. Akande and his associates should 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. Akande is just looking for ways to smear the good name and reputation of the Obidient Movement. Nigerians who listened to that interview completely disagreed with him that the protest was sponsored by Obidient Movement.
So, the protest and the Obidient Movement are not linked in anyway?
Sure, that was why it is very important to set the records straight. The #EndSARS protest was done in 2020 and Obidient movement was not even in existence then. Let me be clear, it was that demand for good governance that gave birth to the Obidient Movement. So, the #EndSARS protest and the Obidient are not linked in anyway. There is no correlation between the two.
The APC was formed in February 6 2013 and it went on to win the 2015 presidential election. Right now, the opposition keeps talking about a coalition but appear to be in disarray with no clear sense of direction. Don’t you think time is running out ?
it is not how far but how well. I can tell you for a certainty that we are in a building process. The major stakeholders in the opposition are talking to themselves. I don’t believe we should be particular about timing. It is not the timing that determines the result. Afterall, the governor of Abia state, Alex Otti within months joined the Labour Party and won the governorship election. The same also happened in Rivers state during the last local government elections. As long as the people are determined to end bad governance and elect purposeful leaders, the timing may not be too important.
Obiora Agbasimalo the Labour Party Governorship candidate in the 2021 Anambra Gubernatorial elections was abducted on 18th September 2021, less than a month before the Guber elections and has been missing for four years now. With another election around the corner, what is your appeal to the relevant authorities?
It is very unfortunate. Mr. Agbasimalo was abducted at Lilu, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, while on a campaign tour to Azhia, a neighboring community in the LGA. He was commanding so much attention from his people during the brief campaign era was tantamount to an overwhelming connection of love, respect and admiration from his people; which had set him on a roller-coaster for victory in the race. It is however unfortunate that a man of such outstanding disposition, with crystal intentions to rejig politicking, putting the interest of his people as paramount could be obliterated without any strong resistance.
Mr Agbasimalo who had resigned from Zenith Bank where he had a burgeoned career of almost two decades to reborn the narratives in his state would meet such devastating waterloo.I want to use this medium to first, stand in solidarity with his family in this trying period, his lovely wife and children, siblings and all members of his family, in optimism for this dark page of their lives to come to an end soonest. Secondly, to appeal to all relevant agencies in this matter, the Police Force, SSS, Agunechemba, youth groups, town unions, the ongoing legal process, to etch into every closet, uncovering everyone involved in this sheer act of wickedness, for Justice to prevail; and reunite Mr Agbasimalo back to his family. We can’t attest for sure his present condition, but together regardless of party affiliations or religious partitions, we can actually unison our resources to jettison this evil menace cinching it’s non occurrence ever again.
This and other seeming evil are perpetuated because the security of Nigerians are not placed on the cadre of National importance, hence the reoccurring prevalent trend of kidnaps, abduction, murder, assassination, theft and other inhumane crime. The future of this nation beckons on us all to leave whatever partition we have behind, collectively to build a Nigeria where security is topmost priority; Nigerians are safe and can carry out their obligations without fear of harrasment or abduction – this we know is POssible.
Kenneth Okonkwo, a spokesperson of the LP has just announced his resignation as a member of the Labour Party. Should we expect similar announcement from you and Peter Obi too?
We are still members of Labour Party. We have not announced our resignation as members of the party, so we are still here.
