Crisis rocks Obidient movement, as key leaders fight dirty over funds, Edo election

The Obidient movement which is the key support base of Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, is facing its first major schism since its inception. The reason is the Edo governorship election where one of the prominent figures of the movement known by his X handle name, FS_Yusuf_, declared support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo against the Labour Party flagbearer, Olumide Akpata.

 

FS Yusuf said the reason he is aligning with Ighodalo instead of Akpata was for equity. Akpata is from Edo South, a zone that in the last 24 years produced two governors who ruled for 16 years. They are; Lucky Igbinedion and incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki whose tenure will expire this year.

 

On his X handle, @FS_Yusuf_ pinned a statement supporting his decision. “Edo State is a state that is big on zoning. The people of Edo know this fact 100%. This is one of the reasons they gave Peter Obi almost 100% support in addition to his Character and Competence, because they will always look for capacity, competence, fairness and equity. An Edo person naturally frowns at the sight of oppression.

 

“The three major parties are aware of the political inclination of Edo State. APC gave their ticket to Edo Central, PDP did same thing, and so what stopped LP from doing same? There are good men in LP from Edo Central that worked for Peter Obi during the last election, they contested for the ticket but the corrupt executives in LP gave the ticket to the highest bidder, neglecting the principle of zoning in Edo State.”

 

 

For declaring support to a PDP candidate, FS Yusuf became the subject of attacks, some even call him Judas (the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ). X Spaces were even held to discuss his alleged treasonable action.

As a rebuttal, FS Yusuf alleged that funds of the Obidient movement were looted by some privileged members of the group. He also shared screenshots of chats with another prominent member of the group famously known by her X handle, @TheSerahIbrahim, alledging she also participated in the loot.

 

He claimed:  “Good morning, Serah Ibrahim – their Secretary that left her 9-5 job in Lagos to drink from Obidients sweat too.”

He added: “Oh your lovely Serah now drives a Totota 2018, ran from Lagos to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Wuye – Abuja. I will wait for her to deny it. Ask your friends to tell you the cost of renting a two bed in Wuye.”

 

In her reaction, Serah Ibrahim said: “Na you dey do bad, na you dey shout. FS Yusuf is drowning and desperately seeking for who to drag along with him, and he has chosen to start with me because I’ve been defending all the false narratives on here. I have held spaces to also counter their false narratives.

 

“You collect money from PDP no mean say you will lose your mind, to the point of telling lies that you voted PO because he’s Igbo. We all know that’s false.

 

“PDP called you for a meeting and from dollars paid you’re giving NGN150,000 to other empty skulls doing align movement with you, and you’re claiming you’re supporting the PDP candidate out of your heart because of equity?

 

“Yusuf where was your equity when I brought an LP Edo Central candidate to you to support? You were more concerned about him paying.

 

“What exactly did you do? Even before you collected PDP money. What did you do for the LP Edo Central Candidates? The day you met those PDP guys at Transcorp I was there too, I stood my grounds.

 

“The day these PDP candidates were calling Obidients to come to them and form one nonsense movement called Align Movement, I was there too. We were all offered money in dollars because they desperately want to destroy Obidients and make them vote PDP. You have allowed yourself to be used but you can NEVER DESTROY THESE OBIDIENTS. Just because you took PDP dollars doesn’t give you the right to insult us and PO and tell outright lies about me because I’m calling you out. I was invited too. I was offered too. We were all offered.

 

“Collect your money in peace and support your PDP and leave obidients out of it. Thank God other people who were offered money have come out to speak up too. Chop your dollars and stop gaslighting Obidients. This is not a paid movement. You’re not supporting the PDP candidate because of equity.

 

“I brought a Labour Party candidate to you from Edo Central and you requested to be paid before you do anything. I WILL NOT POST THE SCREENSHOTS UNTIL YOU DENY IT.”