Former Osun State Governor and close political associate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, has claimed that the #EndSARS protests were orchestrated to derail Tinubu’s political ambitions.
Akande made this assertion in an interview on State Affairs with Edmund Obilo, published on YouTube on Wednesday, January 29. He argued that the protests, which began as a movement against police brutality, had deeper political motives aimed at sabotaging Tinubu’s presidential aspirations.
“When I met him, he said, ‘Baba, do you have money? If I had the kind of money people have to be president, I would rank with Dangote,’” Akande recalled, suggesting that Tinubu initially hesitated to contest due to financial concerns.
He further stated that Tinubu actively avoided discussions about his candidacy and even quarreled with those who urged him to run.
The #EndSARS movement, which gained momentum in October 2020, was a youth-led protest against police brutality, particularly targeting the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The demonstrations culminated in the Lekki Toll Gate shooting on October 20, 2020, where security forces allegedly opened fire on unarmed protesters, sparking national and international outrage.
Although Tinubu was not a government official at the time, many protesters accused him of complicity due to his political influence in Lagos State. His businesses, including media houses and the Lekki Toll Gate, were targeted during the unrest.
