By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The ongoing nationwide mobilisation drive of Team Obidient General Worldwide continued at the weekend with the inauguration of its Edo State structure and a large-scale youth sensitisation programme in Benin City, as the group’s Convener, Hon. Ikenna Azomchine (popularly known as the Obidient General), declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves a second term to consolidate ongoing reforms and accelerate national development.
The event, held on Saturday in Benin City, formed part of the Team’s nationwide expansion following the earlier regional inaugurations in Plateau State and Enugu State respectively. The programme attracted youths, student leaders, grassroots mobilisers, political stakeholders, members of various support groups and members of the Obidient Movement from different parts of Edo State and beyond.
The event also featured voter education, youth induction into Team Obidient General Worldwide, Permanent Voter Card (PVC) awareness and registration campaigns, civic engagement sessions, grassroots mobilisation strategies and collaboration with other support groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing participants, Azomchine said among other reasons, the engagement was also organised to explain the reasons behind his political realignment and that of many members of the Obidient Movement who have resolved to support President Tinubu’s re-election.
According to him, the decision followed what he described as visible developmental projects and ongoing reforms being implemented by the present administration, particularly in infrastructure and governance.
“There are a whole lot of Obidients under our network who are asking questions about why we are moving away to now declare our support to Tinubu, and that is the reason why we’re here — to continue to sensitize them on the reasons why we are leaving because we believe that a Southern presidency under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, if given the maximum support, will do more,” he said.
He cited ongoing federal road projects across different parts of the country as evidence of what he described as the administration’s commitment to infrastructure renewal, noting that several projects which citizens had long demanded were gradually becoming reality.
Azomchine also pointed to ongoing constitutional reforms, including progress on the proposed creation of state police, as developments that have further strengthened his confidence in the administration’s direction.
His words: “It’s very obvious. We traveled from Jos to here after our program there. From Makurdi to Enugu is almost done.
“Those things that we are challenging and agitating for are already being done — that Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be a father and give us that leadership in Nigeria that everybody will be satisfied with. And you can also see the State Police Bill is also being passed.”
While maintaining that constructive engagement remains more productive than endless criticism, Hon. Azomchine urged Nigerians, especially young people, to actively participate in the democratic process by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards and preparing to vote during the 2027 elections. He specifically warned against political apathy, especially on election day, cautioning the youths against going to play away their times on other things they can do every other day and weekend, including playing football.
“Make sure your PVC is ready. Don’t play football on election day. Come out en masse and cast your vote. Leaders are elected by those who participate, not by those who stay at home,” he charged.
The Obidient General, who was a former frontline supporter of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, stressed that the Obidient Movement remains an organic network whose members are capable of making independent political decisions based on conviction and national interest.
“As an Obidient, I’ve seen that President Tinubu is really working. We have to bring more to the limelight what he’s doing. We see what he’s doing and we think if we support a southern presidency for a full eight years, that we’ll be able to achieve more,” he opined.
Azomchine also encouraged participants to establish and strengthen support groups within their various communities, institutions and professional circles, describing such structures as powerful platforms for mutual assistance, leadership development and civic mobilisation.
According to him, beyond politics, the movement intends to build a network through which members can access information, mentorship, employment opportunities and practical support during challenging moments.
“This platform, Team Obidient General, you will be witnesses to the progress of this team. We have done it for four years… We are so connected that even if you are in London and you get stranded, send a message and an Obidient will pick you up from there.”
He assured participants that the platform would continue advocating greater inclusion of young Nigerians in government programmes while encouraging members to remain law-abiding and positively engaged in nation-building.
Azomchine reiterated that the Edo engagement aligns with the youth-focused mobilisation efforts associated with Seyi Tinubu, whose advocacy for youth participation, leadership development and grassroots inclusion has continued to attract attention across different parts of the country; noting that the program was also envisioned to serve as a platform to promote responsible citizenship, leadership development, voter enlightenment and peaceful democratic participation among Nigerian youths.
Other speakers at the event also highlighted the importance of voter participation, reminding young people that they constitute a significant percentage of Nigeria’s voting population and therefore possess the capacity to shape the country’s future through the ballot.
They noted that obtaining a Permanent Voter Card remains the first step towards demanding quality leadership, improved education, better healthcare, enhanced infrastructure and greater accountability in governance.
According to them, democracy can only produce the desired outcomes when citizens actively participate in elections rather than remaining passive observers.
The speakers further urged participants to sustain the momentum of the mobilisation campaign by encouraging other eligible Nigerians to register, collect their PVCs and participate peacefully in future elections.
Following the latest and successful engagement and mobilisation in Edo, Team Obidient General Worldwide said it would continue extending its grassroots structures across other states of the federation as part of its nationwide civic engagement and political mobilisation programme ahead of the 2027 general elections.
More photos and videos from the event:
