Bisi Akande Claims #EndSARS Was Engineered to Derail Tinubu’s Presidential Ambition

Former Osun State Governor Bisi Akande has made a controversial claim that the #EndSARS protest of 2020 was orchestrated by the ‘Obedient’ movement to thwart Bola Tinubu’s presidential aspirations.

In a recent interview with journalist Edmund Obilo, which was posted on YouTube, Akande alleged that the widespread demonstrations against police brutality were not organic but were instead a calculated move, funded by the United States, to undermine Tinubu’s political rise.

“EndSARS was aimed and designed to be the end of Tinubu. Those behind EndSARS knew what they were doing,” Akande said.

The ‘Obidient’ movement refers to the supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election. Akande suggested that this group played a central role in fueling the protests, claiming they had significant financial backing from abroad.

“The Obidients were behind EndSARS. It was manufactured from America just to stop Tinubu. They 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.”

Akande also revealed that Tinubu was initially hesitant to enter the 2023 presidential race, citing financial constraints.

“They called me and said, ‘Come, there is trouble. Anybody that talks to him about the presidency, he was quarrelling with them,’” Akande recalled.

He said he later met with Tinubu, who expressed doubts about his ability to fund a presidential campaign.

“Baba, do you have money? If I had the kind of money that people have to be president, I would rank with Dangote,” Akande quoted Tinubu as saying.

The former Osun governor said he persuaded Tinubu to run, reminding him that his candidacy was not just for himself but for the Yoruba ethnic group.

The #EndSARS protests, which erupted in October 2020, were driven by widespread anger over police brutality, particularly the abuses of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The movement, which started as a call to disband the unit, quickly evolved into one of Nigeria’s largest youth-led protests, demanding broader governmental reforms.

As the demonstrations gained momentum across the country, the federal government eventually announced the disbandment of SARS. However, the protests also led to a violent crackdown, culminating in the infamous Lekki Toll Gate shooting, where security forces allegedly opened fire on unarmed protesters.

Akande’s remarks are likely to reignite debates over the origins and motivations behind #EndSARS, with critics arguing that his claims attempt to rewrite history and politicize a movement that was rooted in genuine grievances against police misconduct.

His statements add to the ongoing tensions between Nigeria’s political factions, especially in the wake of the 2023 presidential elections, where Tinubu emerged victorious against Obi and other contenders.