The Obidient Movement has launched a blistering attack on former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, accusing him of deflecting questions about President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and economic crisis while declaring that someone it described as the “godfather of terrorism” had no moral authority to lecture Nigerians on patriotism.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Media and Communications Directorate, the movement faulted Sheriff’s recent appearance on Channels Television, where it said he abandoned questions on the performance of the Tinubu administration and instead shifted attention to the Nigerian Civil War and Peter Obi.
“The attention of the Obidient Movement has been drawn to the bizarre interview granted by former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, on Channels Television, where he desperately tried to turn a straightforward question about the catastrophic failure of the Tinubu administration into a theatrical lecture on the Nigerian Civil War,” the statement read.
According to the group, Sheriff failed to address concerns over worsening insecurity and economic hardship when asked about calls for President Tinubu to resign.
“Asked a simple question… about calls for President Bola Tinubu to resign over worsening insecurity and the collapse of the economy, Sheriff simply could not answer it. Instead, he reached for the oldest weapon in the APC playbook: tribal fear-mongering.”
The movement argued that rather than defend the administration’s record, Sheriff attempted to divert public attention through ethnic and historical narratives.
“Rather than explain why Nigerians are hungrier, poorer and more insecure than they were three years ago, he dragged the country back to a war that ended over fifty years ago. It was a cheap distraction by a man who had no answer to the question before him.”
The statement also criticised the conduct of the television interview, suggesting that tougher follow-up questions should have been asked.
Defending the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, the Obidient Movement insisted that Obi has consistently demonstrated commitment to national unity and inclusive development.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Peter Obi’s position on national unity has never changed. He believes that every Nigerian should be supported to thrive, no matter where they come from,” it stated.
The group cited Obi’s tenure as Chairman of Fidelity Bank, claiming he supported investments such as Umza Rice in Kano State, and said he had continued to promote economic opportunities across the country regardless of ethnicity or religion.
It further maintained that Obi has repeatedly outlined plans to unlock Northern Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
“Mr. Obi has continually talked about his plans for Northern Nigeria, and how he plans to utilise the region’s vast, uncultivated land to generate more national revenue than oil. When implemented, it will make the region the fastest growing in the country.”
The movement also rejected claims questioning Obi’s commitment to Nigeria’s unity, pointing out that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had repeatedly criticised him because of his stance.
“IPOB itself has threatened Mr. Peter Obi repeatedly because of his unwavering commitment to one united Nigeria. Unlike Mr. Bola Tinubu… Mr. Obi has consistently maintained that lasting peace requires justice, dialogue and inclusion.”
In its strongest criticism, the Obidient Movement alleged that Sheriff lacked the moral standing to speak on patriotism, referencing longstanding allegations that have linked him to the early emergence of Boko Haram—allegations he has consistently denied.
“It is deeply ironic that Ali Modu Sheriff, a man widely identified with the early rise and sponsorship of the Boko Haram insurgency that devastated the North, now wants to lecture anyone on patriotism and national loyalty,” the statement said.
The movement claimed that those defending the current administration were resorting to ethnic and religious sentiments because they could not defend the government’s record.
“Fortunately, Nigerians are no longer buying these tired tricks. Every time this government is confronted with its failures, its defenders reach for ethnicity, religion or the ghosts of history.”
It concluded that the country’s real challenges remain insecurity, hunger and economic hardship rather than ethnic divisions.
“They want Nigerians to argue about 1967 because they cannot defend 2026. But Nigerians know better. The issue before the country is not tribe. It is not religion. It is not the Civil War. The issue is hunger. The issue is insecurity. The issue is economic collapse. And no amount of tribal propaganda can hide the disastrous record of the Tinubu administration,” the statement added.
