Former Governor of Osun State and former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bisi Akande, has made a controversial statement, alleging that the 2020 #EndSARS protests across Nigeria were orchestrated with the intent to end the political career of President Bola Tinubu.
In a recent podcast appearance, Akande claimed that the Obidients, the movement supporting Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, played a significant role in designing the #EndSARS protest, which was said to have been “manufactured” from America.
The protests, which erupted nationwide, were initially sparked by widespread outrage over police brutality, particularly involving the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), and calls for police reform.
Akande alleged that the protest, which lasted several days and saw millions of Nigerians in major cities taking to the streets, was a targeted effort to disrupt Tinubu’s political future.
He stated, “Yes, #EndSARS was designed to be the end of Tinubu. Those behind the #EndSARS knew that’s what they were doing.”
When asked about the connection between the Obidients movement and Peter Obi’s presidential campaign, Akande was cautious.
He acknowledged the Obidients’ role in the protests but stopped short of directly linking them to Obi’s political ambitions, adding, “Maybe Obi’s party, I don’t know. But the Obidients were behind the #EndSARS. It was well planned, organised with a lot of money from America.”
In his remarks, Akande also discussed why Tinubu might not have foreseen the political ramifications of the protest, suggesting that “not every ambush is detected.”