There is uncertainty within the Obidient Movement and the Labour Party (LP) over the fragmentation of the once vibrant Obidient Movement following a Twitter post by the 2023 LP Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
In the post, Obi disassociated himself from having the Obidient Movement domiciled in the Labour Party. He stated that members of the Obidient Movement could belong to different political parties but share the primary aim of effecting change in the country.
“I like to categorically state that the Obidient Movement is not a directorate of any particular political party. Any individual or individuals claiming to be leaders of this non-existent directorate are simply not members of the broader Obidient Movement.
“There may be a youth mobilisation directorate in political parties, but the Obidient Movement is far beyond a particular political party. The Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations. It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country. Its membership spans across Africa and the globe, comprising individuals from various backgrounds, including rural communities, and public, private, and corporate entities, united by a shared vision for a new and better Nigeria.
“Guided by the principles of adaptive and transformative change, progress, discipline, and democratic values, the Obidient Movement advocates for fairness, equity, inclusivity, and justice,” Obi tweeted.
Meche Oswald, the Coordinator of Obidient Youth Ambassadors, in a statement he recently issued tagged ‘Obidient Movement Fragmentation: Unintended Consequences Of Peter Obi’s Statement,’ said he wished Obi had refrained from making such a statement or, better still, sought counsel before sharing his thoughts.
According to him, Peter Obi’s assertion, albeit unintentional, implies that Obidients are at liberty to affiliate with any political party or group of their choice.
He linked Obi’s statement to the numerous defections of lawmakers elected under the platform of the LP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Upon scrutinising the implications of Peter Obi’s statement, I am compelled to express my reservations regarding its potential consequences. In hindsight, I wish he had refrained from making that statement, or at the very least, sought counsel before sharing his thoughts.
“This sentiment suggests that he does not believe the Obidient Movement should be tied to a single political party. I dare say that some individuals who defected from the Labour Party to the APC did so largely due to the perceived ambiguity in Obi’s statement.
“I had a conversation with one such individual who defected recently, a member of the Federal House of Representatives. He revealed that they were emboldened by Obi’s words, which they interpreted as a tacit endorsement of their decision to switch parties.”
Oswald maintained that Peter Obi’s tweet would hurt his political journey for a long time to come.
He further stated that Obi might be acting under duress as a result of the pressure he faced from different quarters, especially the fear of the Director General of the LP Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei.
“In retrospect, I wish Peter Obi had given more thought to the potential repercussions of his statement before sharing it with the public. It is possible that he was acting under duress, given the immense pressure he faced from various quarters, including the fear of Marcel Ngogbehei.
“Marcel, unfortunately, became the target of unjustified vilification, and I hope to have the opportunity to share his story in the future.
“Just as I envisaged, most of the self-seeking, power-hungry individuals who were part of those that forced Obi into making that statement have started joining other political parties. The latest brides are NRM and ADC.
“These duplicitous and depraved characters parading themselves as Obidients and former members of the Labour Party had a plan to pull down the Labour Party before moving on just because they couldn’t hijack the control of the party,” Oswald noted.
He said every right-thinking person would commend Barrie Julius Abure for holding strong and powerfully. He noted that Abure has finally shown the strength and wisdom of leadership.
“One of the primary challenges facing Peter Obi today is his reluctance to risk losing the support of certain influential individuals. For instance, his current rift with Abure is motivated by a desire to maintain relationships with certain key persons.
“While this is a topic for another day, it is essential to acknowledge the fractionalisation of the Obidient Movement and the urgent need to address this issue,” he lamented.
The Obidient Movement leader admitted that the Obidient is weak and struggling to remain relevant. He said the once vibrant organic and spontaneous army of revolution has been reduced to a company of ranters and gossips.
“I have come to realise the distinction between a follower and a supporter. A follower sacrifices his autonomy and ability to think critically. In contrast, a supporter engages in thoughtful analysis, maintains their independence, and provides constructive feedback. The latter approach is essential for building a more inclusive and supportive environment within the Obidient Movement.
“Returning to my primary concern, the Obidient Movement is grappling with internal power struggles, which have unfortunately entangled Peter Obi. In hindsight, it would have been prudent for him to seek clarification on Abure’s intentions in ordaining the Obidient Directorate before reacting publicly.
“By doing so, he could have avoided the current predicament and instead found common ground with Abure.
“Obi has inadvertently created a perception among Obidients that they can affiliate with any political party of their choice. This has culminated in a fragmented movement, thereby undermining the movement’s cohesion and collective purpose.
“Abure’s honest motivation and intention were aimed at harmonising the Obidient Movement. Now, the DMI is achieving what the Obidient Directorate was initially designed to do. If the Obidient Directorate was allowed to live, there would not be the issue of defection today.
“The Labour Party Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration (DMI) headed by Marcel Ngogbehei, is building a solid nest for all interests. The Labour Party is waxing very strong under the visionary leadership of Barrister Julius Abure,” the statement added.
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