Indigenes and residents of the Federal Capital Territory have dismissed Friday’s anti-government protest at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Abuja as a scripted political stunt sponsored by the opposition to manufacture public discontent.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of FCT natives and residents, Coordinator of the FCT Coalition of Youth Civil Society Groups, Ifeoma Adegbe, alleged that the protesters were hired from neighbouring states after information leaked about President Bola Tinubu’s planned Juma’at visit.
The pushback comes on the heels of viral videos showing youths chanting “Tinubu Must Go”, “Ba ma so” and “Ba ma yi” as the presidential convoy left the mosque premises on Friday.
While online reports claimed objects were thrown at the convoy, the Presidency countered the narrative, with the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, O’tega Ogra, releasing footage of Tinubu departing amid cheers from supporters.
Adegbe maintained that the episode was deliberately choreographed for social media mileage in a bid to undermine President Tinubu and paint FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, as a non-performing minister.
She said; “We condemn this act in its entirety. We are inhabitants of the FCT and genuine residents of this territory. We have information that these individuals were brought in from different states after learning that Mr President would be observing Friday prayers at the mosque. They were sponsored, and we strongly condemn such political manipulation.”
According to the youth leader, opposition actors are desperate to create a false impression that the FCT Minister has failed to deliver on his promises to Abuja residents.
Adegbe said, “Let me make it clear: we condemn this act, which we believe was sponsored by the opposition simply to have something to circulate on social media. Their intention is to use such incidents to deceive Nigerians, manipulate public opinion and gain cheap popularity by discrediting the good work of President Tinubu through the Honourable Minister of the FCT.
“They want to create the impression in the public domain that the FCT Minister cannot keep his promises and has done nothing for the territory. We reject that narrative. We say no to this attempt to mislead the public, and we condemn the sponsorship of any group to manufacture political disturbances in our territory.”
She insisted that indigenous communities and non-indigenous residents would not allow outsiders to hijack their political voice, reaffirming the coalition’s pledge to deliver 65 percent of FCT votes for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
“We know the genuine voters of the FCT, and we know the position of our people. We have promised and vowed that we must deliver 65 per cent of our votes in the FCT to President Bola Tinubu. Nobody should mistake the activities of a group of individuals for the collective decision of our people,” Adegbe stated.
The coalition further warned political actors against stoking tension in the territory ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging residents to separate genuine civic grievances from staged political drama.
