Former Osun State Governor, Bisi Akande, has alleged that the 2020 #EndSARS protest was a strategic movement orchestrated by the ‘Obidient’ supporters to prevent Bola Ahmed Tinubu from achieving his presidential ambition.
The ‘Obidient’ movement refers to supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election. Akande, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made this claim while speaking in an interview with journalist Edmund Obilo, which was recently shared on YouTube.
During the interview, Akande asserted that the #EndSARS protest was not merely a demonstration against police brutality but a politically motivated scheme backed by individuals who sought to undermine Tinubu’s political future. According to him, the movement was carefully planned and funded by Obidients based in the United States.
“#EndSARS was not just about ending police brutality. It was designed to bring an end to Tinubu’s political career. Those behind it knew exactly what they were doing,” Akande claimed.
He further alleged that the movement was initiated by ‘Obidients’ in America, who initially attempted to form their own political party but later infiltrated different political parties in Nigeria. “It was a well-organized plan, backed by significant funding from the U.S.,” he added.
Akande also shared insights into how he persuaded Tinubu to run for the 2023 presidential election despite financial constraints. According to him, Tinubu was initially hesitant about contesting due to concerns over campaign expenses. “They called me, saying there was a problem. Whenever anyone mentioned the presidency, he would get upset. When I met him in Lagos, he asked, ‘Baba, do you have money? If I had the kind of money required to be president, I would be as wealthy as Dangote,’” Akande recounted.
The former Osun governor claimed that he reassured Tinubu that his candidacy was beyond personal ambition—it was about securing the political future of the Yoruba people.
The #EndSARS protests, which took place in October 2020, were a nationwide movement against police brutality, with a primary focus on disbanding the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The demonstrations erupted across Nigeria following years of reports of harassment, unlawful arrests, and extrajudicial killings by SARS operatives. The movement gained widespread support and led to the eventual dissolution of the police unit as public outrage grew.
Akande’s statement has sparked reactions among Nigerians, with many questioning his claims and others expressing mixed opinions on the political implications of the #EndSARS movement.