By Afolabi Aribigbola
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T he 2023 general elections especially its Presidential components threw up a new challenge in politicking in the country. This new challenge relates to the conduct of an emerging militant group known as Obedient Movement. Since their emergence in the socio-political landscape, I found it difficult to properly place their stand and positions in national discuss and contemporary development in the country especially in relation to the recent presidential election.
One unique attribute of the group that clearly define them is that they are potent and uncompromising on their stand and position on any individual however highly placed and respected in the society who is not in support of their candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential Election or peradventure speak against or criticize their position or their presidential candidate become their enemy and must receive insults and vociferous attacks. Indeed, some of their members have rationalized this development as attempts to snatch power from the group that have been ruling the country for a long time and don’t want to quit the scene despite their seeming failure in improving the welfare of Nigerians.
They have collectively inflicted pains and sufferings on Nigerians especially the youth. Therefore, they don’t want hear any word from this group, their apologists and supporters especially from the southwest the home base of the President. Unfortunately, their principal, a two time Governor of Anambra State belong to this group which they are vehemently and violently opposed to.
The issue of interest to us this week is the excesses of the group and the barrage of attacks that have been thrown at Professor Wole Soyinka. Suffice to say that the excesses of the group again resonated in their attack of the eminent Nobel Laureate our revered Professor Wole Soyinka. Prof Wole Soyinka, a renown play write, author and social commentator on national and national issues received a scathing attack as well as abuse from some so called Obedient members because he said that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election did not win the election.
He hinged his position on the split of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates of PDP in 2019 presidential election to become presidential candidates of two different parties in 2023 elections .Speaking at a programme in South Africa penulmate week Wednesday, Soyinka said the leadership of the opposition party knew that Obi came third in the election. That he belongs to a monitoring organization and he can say categorically that Peter Obi’s party came third, not even second, and the leadership knew it.This sincere and rational comment that Obi did not win the 2023 Presidential election made the spokeperson of Labour Party to initiate the barrage of attacks when it chided the Nobel Laureate for daring to offer his informed opinion that Peter Obi did not win the election. Thus, the Labour Party, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused Soyinka of being blind to the truth.
Of course, this is not the first time the Nobel Laureate, will be attacked by the Obedient group. The distinguished writer was attacked earlier in the year by the group for lambasting the excesses of the Obedient movement, which he described as fascist, a threat to the judiciary and totally unacceptable. He was also being attacked for the statement he made in a press statement when he said he had told Obi before the presidential election that if he lost the election, it would be his followers who lost it for him. In all the occasions, he has received unwarranted attacks from the group instead of them to accept wise opinion.
Unfortunately, all these uncivilized and unacceptable attacks are occurring in a society whose culture is built and sustained by respect of elders. The usual uncontrolled attacks on anyone that criticize or oppose the position of the Obedient group or their candidate as recently exhibited to Wole Soyinka is an antithesis of our age long tradition that places high premium on respect for elders. This position or assertion must not be misconstrue to suggest that the Obedient cannot respond to criticism or take up the Prof or any other person position. However, my grouse is that the current one was not based on issue but on personality and his past conducts that include the hijacking of a radio station and participation in protests against the 2012 fuel price increase by the Jonathan administration. In other words, their attacks on him were not based on issues that are germane to building consensus on national issues that are critical in promoting national development. It is a negation of our old age tradition of respect for elders. Besides, the simple fact that the attacks were bereft of issues or not based on cogent issues raised by the eminent Professor they were busy attacking his person.
The Professor insistence that their candidate did not win the 2023 presidential election and that a split of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of PDP in 2019 elections into two was responsible for the failure of Mr. Obi. Instead of responding to this issues, it was a sad commentary that all they resulted to was attack on his person while some of them even resulted to primordial sentiments of arguing that the Professor was supporting the President because they are both from the same region of South West.
This pedestal, aggressive and violent approach of conducting issues will not be good for the development of the Nigerian society. Is it their intentions to silence other opinion that does not tally or agree with theirs in a diverse society with over 200 million people and various ethnic nationalities? Or are they out to impose their candidate on the county whether he won the election or not, not minding the mood or position of other groups in the Nigerian project. From the above, it is evident that the group exhibits undue excesses and attack on a respected elder by all standard and such unbecoming actions need to be curtailed so as not to see Nigerians lacking in respect and culture.
They need to learn and imbibe the culture of criticism, respond to issues appropriately instead of abuse and develop the right attribute of presenting their issues and positions to the public without insulting people. Modern societies have moved from the use of brute force or harsh words to obtain submission and support. If the youths must take over the affairs of the country, they must exhibit decorum laced with rich and robust engagement to impress others to support them and not by attacks and insults. They must show respect to those who were ahead of them and learn from them . Attacks on elders will continue to expose their hollowness as groups lacking in the right attitude to lead a diverse society as Nigeria.
One distinguishing character trait of the Obedient group is their ability to throw tantrum on individuals and groups that did not see things their own way or fail to support their candidate. I have no problem about this but the issue is that must they attack and abuse their perceived opponents or enemy to convey their message to Nigerians and the international community? Is this an acceptable practice? I don’t think so and the time will tell if this is how to deepen our democracy.
