Obidient Is An Igbo Political Organisation, by Olutayo Ayodele

Today’s Punch publication unarguably reveals the fundamental flaw in the superstructure of the Obidient Movement. All the 53 amorphous subgroups which make up the spatial structure of the movement are headed by persons who are Igbos.

It becomes crystal clear that Peter Obi heads a political movement whose sole purpose is to force an Igbo ethnic agenda on Nigeria under the presence of establishing a new political order.

I recalled that the Chairman, of the 9th Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu East, once took a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, alleging that he introduced religious and ethnic politics in Nigeria.

The former Enugu State Governor said that reviewing the activities of last year’s elections, he concluded that “Peter Obi deflowered the virgin innocence of political patriotism and nationalism in Nigeria.

“For his ethnic war, he spread across Igbo-domiciled areas across Nigeria, specifically markets and shopping malls. He picked out Christian minority areas for his campaigns in Northern and Central Nigeria. His dual opium of tribalism and religious bigotry has made National Landing depart no more.”

The Labour Party, with the support of the Obidient, won and has a subnational government in place in Abia State. What is new in Abia today?

During the campaign, the DG, Akin Osuntokun who happened to be from the South West, was just like a figurehead as Obi’s SSG, who is from the East, for 8 years, was technically in charge of the campaign committee from day one to the dissolution of the campaign committee.

After the elections, I had anticipated that the Obidient movement would give up on its punishing mission and transform into an ideological pressure group—a respectable opposition. However, the movement remains far from being civil and ideological. It has grown more feral, nastier, desperate, and brutal. The Obidient movement is beginning to resemble a gang of rebels.

The Obedient movement comprised mainly of political neophytes and tribal bigots is characteristically misguided, and uncultured holding on fanatically to an erroneous belief that Obi won the 2023 Presidential elections despite his obvious lack of support from the North West and South West. These two zones make up about 50% of total votes at every national election since the 1st Republic.

All Nigerians’ security is at risk from any movement that is not motivated by the country’s interests. The Obidient movement doesn’t seem to care that its tactics harm both national security and the collective consciousness. I worry that a few individuals from the banned organisation, IPOB, might be in positions of authority inside the movement.

The use of violent threats, lies, and acts against people who disagree portends a more dire future. Individuals fighting Nigeria through other channels may be using the Obidient movement as a political forum.

The already deteriorated relations between Nigerians from different ethnic backgrounds are being made worse by the movement’s tactics. This is the origin of interethnic conflict. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the case that the Yoruba and Igbo are at odds with one another. The remainder of Nigeria is up against the “Obidients.”

I see Nigeria as a symbol of hope and promise for a better present and future, of fortitude and bravery to rise from nothing and dust, of purpose amid chaos, of brotherhood amid differences, and of love even in perilous circumstances.

Olutayo Ayodele is a freelance writer based in Lagos State.