The Obidients' Mandate: The Journey to a New Nigeria

By March Oyinki

The Obidients’ Mandate is a twenty-six Chapter, 172-page book. It derives its name from the massive agitation for real, people-centered presidency under Peter Obi, perceived as the best alternative to the presidential candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, respectively. Even after the polls had been decided by the duplicitous Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the law courts, the ‘Obidients’ have kept faith with their patriotic resolve to make the country great through peaceful protests, organized virtual and live conferences and social media activism. Thus, the mandate for real social and political change is still ongoing. Hence the title of this book.

The chapters dwell on specific topics ranging from voters’ registration and verification exercise, the role of INEC, the conduct of the general election, the party primaries and the Obidient Movement rallies that took place in all the states of the federation.

Also included is the questionable manner INEC conducted the general election with the Biometric Verification and Accreditation System (BVAS), and its inability to upload the presidential election results in clear violation of the Electoral Act. It also covers the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. You will also read about various intervention of the Judiciary in the electoral process in the country, and the public outcry against some of the verdicts of the law court, which over-turned the results some of the candidates, INEC had already declared as winners.

The book also elaborates on some of the activities of the Obidient Movement and the role it played during the pre-party primary rallies and campaigns leading to the Presidential election. It contains detailed account about the activities of the Obidient Movement and its full definition. You will equally read about the relationship between the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement as regards some of the issues that ensured during the campaign rallies and during the period of the general elections.

As regards the state of the nation, the author also wrote about the disappointing role of the federal government and INEC’s ineptitude as clearly demonstrated by their incapability to defend the tenets of democracy and rather chose to further compound and destroy the already adulterated version of the democracy that is currently in practice in the country.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Admate Communications Ltd.
• Release date: Nov 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9789787837115

Book preview

The

Obidients’

Mandate

The Journey to a New Nigeria

March Oyinki

© March Oyinki 2023

The Obidients’ Mandate

by March Oyinki

ISBN: 978-978-783-711-5

Published by Admate Communications Ltd.

1 Ufondu Nnaji Crescent

United Estate, Sangotedo

Lagos, LK 101542

The companies and trade names mentioned in this book belong to the registered owners and remain their exclusive properties.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Cover design: March Oyinki

Page layout: March Oyinki

Cover illustration: Courtesy of the Obidient Movement Worldwide

Production by:

Admate Communications Ltd.

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

Produced in Nigeria 2023

Printed in USA by Amazon

CONTENTS

Chapter       Page

About the Author       …………………………………….…...      vii

Endorsement …..………...…………………………………            viii

Notes from the Publisher       …………………………………      xi

Dedication      …………………………………………………       xiii

Acknowledgment       …………………………………………      xiv

Introduction      ………………………………………………….      Xv

The Ruins of Mobocracy..……………………………….. 18

A Nation Founded in Falsehood  ……………………….....23

2023 Elections: A Conundrum of Corruption ......………29

The Rotten Part of INEC....…………………………...…34

2023 Election: Will the Court Make or Break Nigeria? ….39

Everything Buhari Touches Withers .…………….……..44

2023 Polls: INEC Fails Voters, BVAS Is A Scam………….49

2023 Polls: The Rebirth of a New Nigeria …….…………53

2023 Polls: The Bulk Stops on the Obidient Movement ... 58

Politics of Discord: Between Lai and the Truth  ................62

The Bane of Bayelsa’s Fall From Glory to the Poverty

Capital       ………………………………………………………..      66

Chapter             Page

The Interregnum: Obidient Movement Flock without

A Shepherd.………………………………………………73

FG, Reason INEC Is A Biased Umpire ………………….79

The May 29 INEC Civil Coup d’état ……………............. 84

Igbos, The Missing Factor in the Nigeria’s Political

Equation …………………………………………………89

The GAP Principle: Governance And People Focused Development….…… …………………………………… 95

Obidients and The New Nigeria Project  ………………101

Stitching The Tiers of Government Is Mandatory…….107

Bayelsa Governorship Race: Rekindling the Act of

Surprise In The Underdog ……………………………..…113

The Obidients’ Mandate ………………………………...119

INEC, PEPT and the Delivery of Justice in Nigeria.….. 126

INEC: Unbundling A Perennial Burden  …………….…131

NIGERIA: There Exist A Ghost Country  ……………...139

Neo-Colonialism and The Failure of Democracy in Africa  146

The Economy Has No  Ethnic Boundary ………………155

The President Nigeria Never Had………………………161

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

March Oyinki is the author and publisher of this book title, The Obidients’ Mandate. Mr. Oyinki is also the president and Convener of ‘Movement For Change Worldwide (MFCW)’, a support group with a national spread, whose main focus is to engender good governance, equity and justice. He is a passionate Obidient and a social mobiliser.

March is a member of several political coalitions of which he has continued to play leadership roles in many of them, including the Obidient Movement Council (OBMC) where he is the BOT chairman. He is also a member of the Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN) and the Coalition of Support Groups (CSG). Mr. Oyinki is a Computer Scientist and he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) from the Lagos State University, Ojo (LASU).

Mr. Oyinki is a seasoned public affairs specialist and a serial entrepreneur, who retired from the Policy, Government and Public Affairs Department (PGPA) of Chevron Nigeria Limited. He had earlier worked at both the Public Affairs Section (PAS) and the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the United States Embassy before venturing into business. March has previously authored and published many other books.

ENDORSEMENTS

March Oyinki has been steadfast and ‘Obidient’ from when the whistle blew. He has demonstrated his love and admiration, not only for the duo of Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed, but, for all who subscribe to the Obidient ideology. If anyone can aptly capture the pre, during, and post-election attitude of the Obidients, it would be March Oyinki.

- Denzil Amagbe Kentebe,

DDG, South, Obi-Datti Campaign Council

"The author, March Oyinki, is a passionate Nigerian and an unapologetic ‘Obidient’, who is a first timer in politics as a response to rising consciousness of the present realities. The events in this period of the general election, requires a fearless, yet objective and out of the box individuals that can and will continue to sustain the values of transformational leadership that progressively, results in the sustained moral, economic, political and social efforts. March is one of the few new breed of Nigerians working tirelessly to ensure the new Nigeria project comes to fruition."

- Dr. Moses Paul, Author, politician, Social Activists, and Team Lead, Free NIGERIA Movement.

The book, ‘The Obidient Mandate’ is a timely snippet by a prolific writer and patriotic Nigerian who is committed to the struggle for genuine, impactful and transformative Leadership in Nigeria, and the larger society. I describe him as one of the revolutionists of our time

- Comrade Daniel Dumije, National Coordinator/Leader and Coalition of Support Groups (CSG).

March Oyinki, the author of The Obidients' Mandate, shall most definitely, find a place in the pantheon of patriots committed to a New Day and a New Deal for the masses of our Country. He is a dyed-in-the-wool Obidient and one desirous of a New Nigeria that works for all. His book is a testament of the Peoples' Power and their ability and determination to rupture a cycle of hate, want, poverty, oppression and despondency. The author foretells a future assured and a hope guaranteed through the instrumentality of a Movement. 'The Obidient Movement', which soars above our traditional fault lines, ditto, region and religion has redefined our politics and paved the pathway to a New Nigeria, and such is the spirit chronicled in March Oyinki's work. I wish the Author and the Work great success.

– Prof. Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr. Convener Country First Movement and. A Leading Obidient.

The Obidient Mandate, authored by March Oyinki, could not have come at a better time than now. It succinctly summarizes and epitomizes the journey to greatness of a nation that was impeded by different forces at play.

- Simon Nnaemeka Nwani Esq.,

Deputy Convener, MFCW, a lawyer and humanist.

While I desire, but not sure how Nigeria will fare out on Mobocracy, the author, March Oyinki in The Obidients’ Mandate, offers a how-we-got-here postulation, yet tilts a mirror of self-appraisal, an opportunity for us to transcend despondency.

- Benjamin Benj! Okoh, award-winning broadcaster and anchor Classic FM BookOnReview

March Oyinki's The Obidients' Mandate is a powerful and courageous reflection on Nigeria's quest for a better future, offering a compelling account of the unwavering support for Peter Obi and the resilient spirit of the ‘Obidients,’ contributing significantly to the dialogue to restore genuine democracy in the nation amidst corruption, oppression, violence, insecurity, electoral malfeasance and manipulations of the 2023 presidential election that have been globally described as deeply flawed.

- Pastor Emmanuel Ihim Esq., Author and Convener, Diaspora Obedient Movement and

Diaspora Working Committee USA.

NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Author of the book, "The Obidients’ Mandate, March Oyinki, is a passionate ‘Obidient,’ who, though a first timer in politics became dearly and deeply involved in active politics during the campaigns that ended in the 2023 general election. His involvement in politics resonated from a deep desire for good governance, and utter conviction and belief in the pragmatic ideology of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 polls.

From that moment when the Author took that bold decision, he has never relented, and being the Convener of one of the major support groups for Obi, ‘Movement For Change Worldwide (MFCW)’, he immediately activated the State chapters of the group across the entire federation, and mobilised his members, which numbered over three thousand. The group became actively involved in the pre-presidential and post-presidential rallies and campaigns in over twenty -six States, traversing the length and breadth of the country.

In the heat of the electioneering, Mr. Oyinki participated in the Train-the-Trainer exercise conducted for support groups, convened by the Labour Party Polling Agents Verification and Mobilization Committee in Abuja, chaired by Engr. Gabriel B. Gambo. After that, he went on to conduct several physical and online training classes for Polling Agents within the Lekki – Ibeju axis in Lagos State. The author successfully trained over one hundred and twenty Polling Agents for the Labour Party in Lagos State, many of whom manned some of the polling units during the presidential and governorship elections.

Prior to the campaigns, the Author was busy planning, engaging and building up membership in the group, mobilizing voters and preparing them for the rallies and the elections that ensued.

These activities form the background of this book, which substantially, captures the thrills and frills before, during and after the 2023 general elections. The book also effectively covers the moments and modes of the ‘Obidients’ and specifically, those of his group, MFCW, as they participated actively in the entire journey preceding the campaigns and during the general elections.

The book equally delves into the state-of-the-nation and portrays the feelings of the generality of the citizens, reporting events as they unfolded during the voters’ registration exercise, the party primaries, the campaigns and even the pre -and post-election events. The book speaks to the minds of Nigerians and the challenges that unfolded during this political period in the country. The Author substantially, in his writings, represents the mind and voices of the ‘Obidients’ and the voiceless in the society.

The 172 page and twenty-six chapter book, is written in clear and simple words for easy comprehension and assimilation by readers. You can be sure that the book will be a worthwhile companion that you will cherish and keep in your book collection

DEDICATION

It is with profound pleasure and utmost commitment that I dedicate this book to the ‘Obidient’ family worldwide, as a token of my heart felt support of the struggle for a New Nigeria and a mark of my personal recognition of their dedication to the movement. I salute every