AYDM is a coalition of 121 pan-Yoruba civil society and artisan groups spread across Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Edo
The Alliance of Yoruba Democratic Movements, AYDM, has stated that the Labour Party and its supporters, popularly known as ‘Obidients’ behave like Nazists.
AYDM is a coalition of 121 pan-Yoruba civil society and artisan groups spread across Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Edo
AYDM in a statement jointly signed by its General Secretary, Popoola Ajayi and Organising Secretary, Chief Kunle Oshodi, stressed that the Obidients’ criticisms are driven by a blind rage and fury with neither logic, reason nor common sense.
The statement said those attacking the Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka over his comments on Datti Baba-Ahmed's call for anarchy lack a deep sense of history and are a threat to democracy and human civilisation.
The group said novelist Chimamanda Adichie's letter to US President, Joe Biden reflects veiled ethnic agenda.
It noted that supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi are noted for a culture of banality and contempt for common sense.
The statement partly reads, "Those attacking the Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka over his comments on Datti Ahmed's call for anarchy lack a deep sense of history and are a threat to democracy and human civilisation.
"Nigerians have now learnt that it would be a grave error if Peter Obi had won the election adding that his conduct and that of his supporters indicated that they are ideologically barren, fascist and driven by Igbo Fundamentalism, a worst form of political philosophy that believes there are no human beings on earth except those who support Peter Obi now projected as an Igbo candidate with an unmistaken Igbo agenda, seeking to rule a plural society like Nigeria.”
"The attacks on Soyinka are irresponsible. They show that Obidients are violently anti-culture. They have a terrorist mentality, obsessed by democratic debates and have the penchant for bloodletting and a rabid mindset which the Yoruba refer to as Digbolugi," AYDM said in the statement.
AYDM said Obidients are anxious to extend their factories of terror across Nigeria through its armed wing, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.
"One of such instances was the arrested Eze Igbo in Lagos who said he would bring armed members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB and Eastern Nigeria Security Network, ENSN to fight in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
"Soyinka was detained and held in solitary confinement for more than one year in defence of the rights of Igbo while Col Adekunle Fajuyi sacrificed his life in efforts to protect Gen Aguiyi Ironsi, all the efforts make no sense to a people that can never be satisfied except they achieve their zeal for conquest and brutal domination of others.
"We have watched with keen interests this tactless and reckless people who are desperate to set the country ablaze and set humanity against itself through their mindless provocation and cruel disdain for logical reasoning.
"We are ready to confront them in all shades and in all forms, even on the streets unless they purge themselves of genocidal instincts.
"Obi won over 80 percent in many of the South East states. His supporters were seen in various video clips attacking and hounding those opposed to their beliefs. They clubbed and viciously attacked those who did not support Labour Party. Their intention was to nationalise this criminal enterprise. In other parts of Nigeria, during the governorship election. They were resisted in the South West in spite of their threats of armed attacks.
"Obidients are bullies with no respect for alternative opinions. They are Nazists. It is to the credit of Peter Obi that he has revealed that he and his supporters lack the mental and emotional stability to get close to power in Aso Rock.
"The ceaseless attacks on Soyinka for condemning the calls for violent insurrection by many supporters of Peter Obi represents a display of cruel intolerance and assault on democratic norms.”
"We caution those attacking Soyinka to beware of proportional measure of resistance from his admirers all over the world. He is not just a treasure, he is a global icon that cannot be diminished by anarchists who at gunpoint are bent on imposing their perspectives on Nigerians," the statement said.
The AYDM is a coalition of 121 Pan-Yoruba groups including Oodua Peoples Congress (New Era), Oodua Nationalist Coalition (ONAC), Professional Hunters Union, ANACCOWA, representing Okada riders in the West, Vigilante Group, South West Youth Coalition, SWYC, NATA, mechanic associations in the South West, Oodua Peoples Congress (Reformed), Network for Yoruba Alliance, NENA, Itsekiri Nationalist Congress, INCO, Kwara-Kogi Yoruba Solidarity Front, Oodua Students League, (OSL), Congress of Oodua Descendants in West Africa Coast, (CODWAC), and several other community-based groups from Kogi, Akoko-Edo, Kwara and Itsekiri area of Delta State.