Wike exposes a senator behind protest funding, bringing new insights into political dynamics. Get the full story here.
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that a senator aiding anti-government demonstrations within the region has been identified by security forces.
The disclosure was made subsequent to an unplanned gathering of the FCT Security Council, which took place on Thursday evening in Abuja.
According to Wike, the senator was reported to have organized for a truck full of provisions to be transported and distributed among protesting people, with support from certain security personnel.
Wike highlighted that although protests are a fundamental democratic entitlement, they must comply with court orders. Particularly, the instruction which restricts protest actions within Abuja’s MKO Abiola National Stadium should be adhered to.
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“We previously announced that we will keep the press informed as we observe the demonstrations of individuals who claim to be protesting against inadequate governance and famine in our country,” said Wike.
“We firmly believe in adhering to democratic principles, which necessitate compliance with the rule of law. We further think that people have a right to demonstrate so that their concerns may be addressed by government officials. Following court orders is a way of complying with legal regulations.”
Wike elaborated on the government’s commitment to enhancing citizens’ lives and cited a recent court ruling which permits protests at only the National Stadium without outright banning them.
He also expressed apprehension over rampant violence and property destruction should demonstrations spiral out of control in other parts of the city.
Wike cautioned against the danger of troublemakers taking over peaceful demonstrations and causing harm to both people and property, citing previous occurrences in other regions.
He advised all protesters to adhere strictly to the court-enforced guidelines by limiting their actions within assigned boundaries.
In addition, Wike drew attention to intelligence reports revealing that a senator had organized for security agencies to accompany provisions for the protesters.
He categorized this as a type of support and announced that pertinent security agencies would shortly summon the senator for interrogation on this subject.
Wike stated that security agencies will summon the senator at a suitable moment to inquire about their motive for supporting actions against the current government.
