Senator sponsoring anti-government protests in Abuja — Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, alleged on Thursday that a senator was sponsoring anti-government protests in Abuja.

Briefing journalists after an emergency security meeting, the minister said security agencies in the territory identified a senator as one of those sponsoring the anti-government protests.

He did not mention the name of the senator but disclosed that the lawmaker will soon be invited for interrogation by security agencies.

Wike said: “Now we also have intelligence 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 providing food for protesters.

“At the appropriate time, security agencies will invite the senator and find out how the lawmaker will be sponsoring this kind of thing against the government of the day.

“This is a democratic government and so we must act according to the rule of law. We also believe that for those protesting, it is their entitlement so that government can address the issues raised. Obeying the rule of law is obeying court orders.”

The minister stressed that protesters in Abuja should ensure compliance with a court order that restricted protests to the National Stadium.

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He said, “You are aware of the court order yesterday. The court did not stop protests, it only restricted them to the National Stadium.”

He also warned protesters that miscreants are likely to hijack the protests in Abuja.

He added, “We had come out to say clearly that one of the reasons we appealed against the protest was that we believe some miscreants will hijack the process and cause destruction of property within the FCT. See what happened in some of the states today. Now, look at the loss of lives. If such a thing happens in the FCT, what do you think people would say? Here we have the international community carrying out their businesses.”