The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has called on residents of the FCT to adhere to a court order restricting protests to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Wike made this appeal in Abuja on Thursday following a meeting of the FCT Security Council, which was convened to review developments surrounding the commencement of a 10-day nationwide protest.
Wike emphasized that while the court order issued on Wednesday does not prohibit protests, it mandates that they be confined to the stadium. He warned that intelligence reports indicate that some unidentified individuals may attempt to use the protests as a cover to destroy properties on Friday, potentially leading to loss of life. He stressed that security agencies will not tolerate such actions.
“You are aware that there was a Court Order as of Wednesday. The court did not stop the protest, but the court said that the protest must be confined to a particular area, which is Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Security agencies should allow the protesters to converge at the stadium and talk to the world through the press. We believe, as a democratic society, while you want to carry out your protest, you should do it according to the rule of law,” Wike stated.
He expressed concern that protesters had attempted to move towards Eagle Square in defiance of the court order. Wike urged all residents to respect the rule of law and warned that disobedience could lead to chaos and destruction, citing violent incidents in Kano, Kaduna, and other states where protests escalated.
The minister also disclosed that intelligence reports have implicated a Senator as one of the alleged sponsors of the ongoing nationwide protests. According to Wike, this Senator had even coordinated with some security agencies to provide food for the protesters. He indicated that the Senator would be invited by security agencies to explain his involvement.
Wike commended the residents of the FCT who chose not to participate in the protests, thereby preventing potential mayhem, and assured them that the government is working to address the challenges being protested. He also praised the media for their responsible journalism in covering the events and the security agencies for their restraint in dealing with protesters.
