Chaos, resulting in an intense fight and the turning of chairs, erupted in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday when the Obidient Movement gathered to inaugurate its new executives.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred in the presence of Dr Tanko Yunusa, the global leader of the Obidient Movement.
The fight began when Wisdom Osai, the former secretary of the Obidient Movement in Borno, objected to the new executives, arguing that the state leaders were unaware of how they were formed.
While still speaking, angry persons invaded the hall to bundle him out before his supporters retaliated.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to LEADERSHIP expressed dissatisfaction with the process, describing it as a cheat on the intelligence of state stakeholders and most members.
One of the aggrieved members, Ike Joseph, alleged that the nomination of the new executives did not follow due procedure.
He said,” Some members who want to hijack the party from the party members just sit down inside a room and draft their own names without any consultation.”
Another party member, on the condition of anonymity, added, “Ordinarily, we were supposed to nominate and decide who to lead us. From nowhere, they just brought these people without our knowledge. This is why we are boldly objecting to it”.
He said the nominated candidate, Ayuba Wakawa, who was prepared to be sworn in as the new state coordinator, is not generally acceptable.
“This is not the supposed procedure; you cannot just nominate yourselves to head us without our input”, he added.
Other members who supported the inauguration criticised Wisdom’s approach and those who were against the inauguration.
One of them said, “How will you have such anger and not know the right approach to use. We know he was sponsored by people who wanted the position. But it is nothing but an embarrassment to handle an issue like that”
“Everything that happened there is coordinated. Some persons sponsored thugs to make sure that this inauguration would not hold.
If not, is this little disagreement worth this extent of damage?” he asked furiously.
He alleged that those who disrupted the exercise were sponsored thugs.
LEADERSHIP observed a tense atmospheric condition with many members angrily leaving the venue before calm was restored.
Our correspondent, however, gathered that despite the chaos, the inauguration continued.
The Obedient Movement Media team said that despite the deliberate attempts by some sponsored individuals to obstruct and derail the inauguration, security personnel promptly contained the situation.
The media team said, “Their professionalism and swift action ensured peace, order, and the safety of all participants. This intervention guaranteed that the programme continued seamlessly, reflecting the movement’s resilience, courage, and determination to focus on its vision and mandate despite distractions. “
