Popular Yoruba actress and lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Funke Adesiyan, has been getting flaks for saying the march on Monday, by hoodlums under the aegis of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerians (CCN) and the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) was peaceful.
According to organisers, the rally was to ask for the sack of Prof. Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Adesiyan, who plans on seeking re-election as a lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly, noted in a BBM group chat, naijahottestgist.com that, contrary to the reported violence which took place during the march, no violence was recorded.
“Good morning Parliamentarians, I was part of the walk by Coalition of Concerned Nigerians (CCN) led by Otunba Gani Adams,” she said, Tuesday.
According to the actress, who is running for the Ibadan South-East Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the protest was not politically motivated and not sponsored by anybody. “We are only asking for an explanation on the allegation against Prof. Jega saying that under-age youths were registered to vote in the north. We say NO to postponement of elections because of shortage in PVC collection. We say NO to creation of 30, 000 illegal polling units in the North. We ask for equity in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. We are one great nation and we don’t need Prof. Jega to divide it for us,” she addressed the over two hundred members and supporters of the APC and PDP of the group, who cut across Nigeria and the Diaspora.
“On this premise,” the thespian continued, “we call on Jega to go on his break due on the 24th of March, 2015 and allow another credible officer from INEC conduct this election. We broke nothing, touched no one, and maimed no one. It is the most peaceful rally I’ve witnessed in recent times. It was sponsored by no one. All of us that got involved did it voluntarily based on our passion for equity, justice and unity of Nigeria. It’s unfair that APC is trying to frame us. Nigerians know propaganda is APC’s style and we shall not lose focus on achieving our aim peacefully.”
However, some fans of the actress and pro-APC members on the forum were quick to take her on, in what soon generated in a hot debate, counter accusations and resentment.
“I have pictures of vandalized cars and stuffs by the OPC goons unleashed on Lagos by GEJ, Fasheun and Gani Adams. Guys please stop defending the indefensible,’ a Prof Chris Nwaokobia Jnr, responded.
A member named KJV also berated Adesiyan for being part of Monday’s controversial protest.
“The issue of the 30, 000 additional polling units has been put to rest by INEC,” KJV wrote. “Where are your facts that under-age youths were registered by INEC and if you do have them, is Ikorodu road the headquarters of INEC? How has INEC divided Nigeria exactly? On the issue of six geo-political zones, how is the removal of JEGA going to help with actualising that? Okay, let us say your intents are pure, how come 70% of the people I saw at Motorways yesterday are wearing OPC T-shirts instead of CCN? How come flyers litter the entirety of the street instead of your association speaking to and handing same to people? You didn’t see the matches, charms and guns brandished by some hard looking boys yesterday? How come Channels TV and AIT showed pictures of billboards demolition in the midst of the “peaceful” walk? My sister, it is better to keep quiet considering that you are running for elective office now.’
Another respondent, by the name TW expressed surprised at Adesiyan’s post.
“I will not join issues with you on the misplaced issue of the suspended polling units by INEC. But take very strong exception to the lies on what happened yesterday on Ikorodu road. As an Attorney, your right and that of other members of the OPC to protest is inalienable and protected by the laws of the land (The 1999 Constitution of the FRN, as amended). But my dear sister, that right does not allow you brandish guns, machete and other dangerous weapons and destroying properties…’
Another poster, Mr. Porsche, however, saluted what he termed Adesiyan’s ‘civil approach’ but went ahead to pose some questions for the actress.
“Did you guys notify the Commissioner of Transport to assist in traffic control on Monday morning?” He asked. “If yes, what was the official response and, is it detailed and can we as Nigerians read or see it? Did you guys consider the plight of those who would get queried yesterday by their bosses or organisation heads for coming to work late? Did you guys think having such a rally on a Monday morning and locking down Ikorodu road which is the most reasonable alternative route to 3MB (Third Mainland Bridge) is the right way to go? You mentioned the Jega issue and him embarking on his leave on the 24th of March, 2015. Permit me to ask you truthfully, how will our democracy not get truncated if Jega leaves office four days to the Presidential Elections? Will the new man understand the system within four days? If you want Jega out four days to the election, so why keep him till 24th?’
Although supporters of PDP on the forum also added their voice, claiming Adesiyan couldn’t have lied by saying she didn’t notice any violence, another member, Kabaat, has a contrary opinion.
Obviously bitter, Kabaat said, “Playing Politics with issues as sensitive like what you guys did, is not only condemnable but treasonable to say the least. No matter the Party, such show of brutish brigandage, wanton destruction, violence and intimidation, should have no place in our polity. When you claim it was the ‘most peaceful’ protest, I am wondering if you were talking about that or another because images, facts coming from so called ‘walk’, tells the contrary.”
Kabaat then advised politicians not to repeat history. “History is replete with instances like this, except if you don’t appreciate history. Boko Haram started like that, so did the Niger Delta militants. An OPC unleashed in the South west like BH in the North East, will not be an interesting proposal, I believe you agree. I personally was disappointed yesterday when I saw my ‘egbon’ Uncle Alex Osifo, in the company of these misfits and traducers who do not give a damn if this country burns. Are there no better modes or formats to express yourselves rather than the wanton destruction unleashed on the citizenry of Lagos? What happened to peaceful walk or press conference or an artistes’ jamboree to spread your message? Look here…anybody who tells me it’s about Jega, needs to have their heads examined. Jega is not our problem. We are our own problem. If going to the streets and destroying public properties is your solution to get Jega out of office, then… I will reserve my comment.’
Adesiyan however insisted that there was no violence at all.
“I do not speak from both sides,” she said. “I stand by what I believe in and I stand tall. I was there. There was no iota of violence all through the rally. I still drove back home on Ikorodu road where the rally took place and I repeat- No Vandalised vehicles.”
It was, however, widely reported that the protesters wielded weapons and harassed Nigerians as they went about on Monday, causing traffic jams in some parts of Lagos.
Also confirming the chaos, a Bosun Osifowora wrote of his wife’s experience at Mushin. “Someone beside her had pellets removed from her body from the shooting,” Osifowora noted. “We need to condemn the act of the president; things are degenerating into base levels with this campaign. Police was protecting OPC members wielding guns and machete. It took me three hours to drive from Isaac John to Police Command (within Ikeja). Things are getting worse, the president should dissociate himself from these things. He is creating a monster which he may not be able to tame all in the name of second term. These things will come back to haunt him. I guess u still remember the mayhem that these OPC guys caused during Obasanjo’s tenure. Now that they have the backing of the president, I guess you can’t imagine what will follow. We have only one country and if things disintegrate because of one man’s ambition, we will pay for it.”
It will be noted that similar rallies had taken place by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) last week.
