Fresh cracks have emerged within the Obidient Movement in Borno State following a violent clash that disrupted the inauguration of its new state executive officers in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
Chaos erupted at the event when the former state secretary, Wisdom Osai, objected to the swearing-in of the new executives, alleging that due process had been ignored in their selection.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to Punch disclosed that the protest escalated after thugs stormed the hall to forcibly eject Osai.
Aggrieved members claimed that the leadership imposed on them lacked legitimacy.
“Some people just sat in a room and drafted the names of themselves without any consultation,” said Ike Joseph, one of the protesters.
Another member, Salih Adamu, rejected the newly nominated state coordinator, Ayuba Wakawa, describing him as “not a consensus candidate.”
But loyalists of the newly inaugurated leadership accused the dissenters of being sponsored to destabilise the movement.
“How will you have such anger and not know the right approach to use? We know he was sponsored by people who wanted the position. It is nothing but an embarrassment to handle the issue like that,” said a supporter, Chibu Peter.
But the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, told the aforementioned publication that the chaos is a failed plot by sponsored elements to infiltrate and hijack the group.
Tanko said the rowdy session was the handiwork of individuals determined to destabilise Wednesday’s exercise.
“It was a case of some people trying to infiltrate the ranks of the Obidient. But the tension was quickly doused before it got out of hand.
“They were trying to cause problem but the issue was resolved immediately and we moved on. It wasn’t as serious as being peddled around. These are things that happen in politics, especially when elections are coming,” he said.
Tanko commended the “professionalism and swift action” of the police that “ ensured peace, order, and the safety of all participants.”
“This intervention guaranteed that the programme continued seamlessly, reflecting the movement’s resilience, courage, and determination to stay focused on its vision and mandate despite distractions,” he said.
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