Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has revealed that they have gotten intelligence that a senator is sponsoring the protest in the FCT, that the intelligence showed that the senator invited some security agencies to lead some of them to provide food for the protesters.
Wike, who described providing food for the protesters as sponsorship, expressed confidence that the security agency would invite the senator and find out why he was sponsoring such a protest against the government of the day.
The minister, who made this known while briefing the press on Thursday on the situation of the protest in the FCT, also revealed that from an intelligence report, the protesters are coming out on Friday to destroy property, which would lead to loss of lives.
“The security agencies will not allow it. Every protester, please go to the Moshood Abiola stadium and conduct your protest. Look at the loss of lives in Kaduna, and see what happened in Kano. What would you think people would say if such a thing had happened in the FCT?
“We have international communities carrying out their businesses and residing in the FCT. So, we think that this country belongs to all of us. We believe that we must work according to the rule of law, and working according to the rule of law means obeying court orders.
“We also have information that a senator had to invite some security agencies to lead some of them to go and provide food for the protesters. That is sponsorship.
“A senator is providing food for the protesters. I am convinced that the security agency will invite the senator and find out how he is sponsoring this kind of protest against the government of the day,” he said.
The minister further said they also believe that those protesting are doing it because it is their entitlement to carry out protests so that the government can resolve some of the issues raised in such demonstrations.
“We also believe that in carrying out that protest, we must do it according to the rule of law. We have stated categorically and clearly that we are not stopping protests, but we only appealed that they should give the government some time to resolve some of these issues.
“We have tried to tell the residents and indigenes of Abuja that we are doing quite a lot to change the lives of our people. You know there was a court order yesterday, but the court did not stop the protest.
“But the court said this protest must be confirmed to a particular area, the Moshood Abiola stadium. The security should allow the protesters to converge at the Moshood Abiola stadium and then talk to the world and all the media, who would let the world know all they are saying.
“And we believe that as a democratic society, when you want to carry out your protest, you must do it according to the law, and the court has said, do this protest, carry it out with your fundamental rights, but within the Moshood Abiola stadium,” he said.
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