Obi No Be Their Mate: Organisers Planned Tinubu Rally, Crowd Turned It Into Obi Rally

What was presented as a 5KM Independence Day Run at PTI Junction in Warri/Effurun, Delta State, quickly became politically charged after organisers distributed SOFT Nigeria-branded shirts carrying President Bola Tinubu’s image. Reports and videos from the event show some participants rejecting the shirts, tearing them, and in some footage setting them on fire while chants of “Obi! Obi! Obi!” could be heard. In this video, we break down what happened, why some participants said they felt deceived by the political branding, and the questions raised about using a public Independence Day fitness event for political mobilisation. Available reports differ on some details, including exactly how the event was presented to participants and the political affiliations of everyone involved, so those distinctions are discussed accordingly. Disclaimer: This video is produced for news reporting, commentary, analysis and public-interest discussion. Political statements, interpretations and opinions discussed in this video belong to the individuals or sources to whom they are attributed. The presentation does not claim that every participant at the event supported or opposed any particular politician. Viewers are encouraged to review the available evidence and reach their own conclusions. Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976: allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Any third-party photographs, video clips, screenshots or other materials appearing in this video are used where applicable for commentary, criticism, analysis and news reporting. Such materials remain the property of their respective copyright owners. No infringement is intended.