Popular Yoruba actress and an intending 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 election as 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 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 have
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 24 th 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 24 th ?’
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 yesterday , 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 yesterday’ s 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 yesterday? 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 )
yesterday. 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 .