Following Monday’s protest by the Oodua Peoples’
Congress, OPC, factions within the group have risen
up to dissociate themselves from the call for
removal of Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
F ollowing Monday’s protest by the Oodua Peoples’
Congress, OPC, factions within the group have risen
up to dissociate themselves from the call for
removal of Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The Gani Adams’ faction of the OPC, accompanied
by members of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign
Organization, took to the streets in Lagos to demand
the removal of the INEC boss ahead of the March 28
general elections.
Mr. Adams said the rally was not partisan, but a call
for Mr. Jega to be removed from office.
“What we protested for was the removal of Jega
over the poor distribution of PVCs in the south,
registration of underage in the north and creation of
additional 30,000 polling units in the north,” Mr.
Adams told PREMIUM TIMES after the protest.
The OPC members, armed with guns, pocket-
knives, machetes, and charms marched from the
Lagos-Ibadan expressway through Ikorodu road
chanting anti-Jega songs.
Some of protesters harassed motorists and
passers-by while others vandalized campaign
posters of political parties, particularly those of the
All Progressives Congress, APC.
Last Friday, the Movement for the Actualization of
the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, held similar
protests across the South Eastern states of
Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi where they accused
Mr. Jega of incompetence.
On Sunday, the APC claimed it had uncovered a plot
by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, to
use ethnic militias to protest for the removal of Mr.
Jega.
But Mr. Adams accused the APC and Lai
Mohammed, its National Publicity Secretary, of
peddling falsehood, adding that Monday’s protest
was peaceful.
“Nobody was attacked. Lai Muhammed should stop
peddling lies against our members,” Mr. Adams
said.
“Nobody touched their bill boards. It’s the most
peaceful rally I have seen. Even they, APC, cannot
hold a peaceful as successful rally as that. As a
matter of fact, over 30 Nollywood stars took part in
the rally including myself.”
“Against Yoruba interest”
Another faction of the OPC responded swiftly and
angrily on Monday, accusing Mr. Adams of
betraying the group and the Yoruba people.
“We, the members of the National Coordinating
Council of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, the
highest ruling body of the organization, wish to
disassociate ourselves from the shameful,
destructive, violent and reactionary activities of the
Gani Adam-led team which occurred in Lagos
today,” the group said in a statement.
“What was witnessed today in Lagos was the
highest level of political violence sponsored and
funded by certain elements in the Jonathan
government.
“Gani Adams is on his own and does not enjoy the
support of a large size of our membership spread
across the country. He is working for the sponsors
of violence against our people who want the March
28 elections not to hold. Unleashing terror on
innocent citizens and killing them is not the way of
democracy. It is not our idea of a people-oriented
advocacy.”
In 2013, the Mr. Adams-led faction of the OPC
secured a lucrative contract from the federal
government to secure crude oil pipelines in the
South West.
At the time, Mr. Adams justified the contract by
claiming that President Jonathan had also awarded
similar contracts to Niger Delta militants and that
the OPC deserved its share.
“For a group that has been doing a lot of things for
the society free of charge, it is not too much to
apply for a security job,” Mr. Adams had said.
Monday’s meeting of the OPC faction was attended
by Shina Akinpelu, Monsuru Akande, Sunday
Adebayo, Kilanko Oladipupo, Kehinde Ogunyale, and
Gbenga Eegunlusi.
In its statement, the faction accused Mr. Adams of
being on “dubious project” and using the pipeline
contract from the government as an excuse to
recruit people to work for Mr. Jonathan and PDP in
the South West.
“Gani Adams is acting against Yoruba interest. The
compromises he has made amounts to selling the
Yoruba to the present government for a piece of
Pipeline contract to line his pockets,” the group said.
“OPC is not about pipeline contracts or any other
contracts for that matter. The Yoruba interest is
beyond contracts. We seek justice and fairness
from the current government.”
The group called on Yoruba sons and daughters to
join them in condemning Mr. Adams and his “anti-
democratic tendencies.”
“We must renounce him and remind him he cannot
sell the Yoruba race to Jonathan and PDP on the
cheap. He also has no authority to speak on behalf
of the Yoruba people,” they said.
“We pity those who rely on him to win votes. They
will be sorely disappointed. Their investment is a
bad one already. We reject today and always any
attempt to use our organization and its members for
narrow and selfish partisan purposes.
“We must remind them that the Yoruba people
cannot be hoodwinked by sweeteners. No one
should expect them to kow tow to an individual who
is a Lilliputian in the political development and
history of the Yoruba nation.”
While renouncing Mr. Adams and his activities, the
group also renounced other Yoruba sons and
daughters who are playing roles inimical to the
welfare and interest of the South West.
“We call on our people to be vigilant politically at
this time. Nigeria needs a new leadership, a new
direction and a country that works.”
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SOURCE:
SAHARAREPORTERS,
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