29th March, 2023
By Isa Isawade
A Pro-Tinubu group on Tuesday in Abuja launched what it regarded as marathon rallies to occupy Nigeria if the opposition candidates in the just concluded 2023 Presidential Election and their agents would not desist from plans to truncate democracy.
Supporters of the candidates who lost in the election had earlier staged protests in Nasarawa, Abuja and a few other places across the country in spite of the fact that the country’s constitution provides for due process through which electoral grievances could be lawfully addressed.
This made the alarmed activists decide to stage counter-protests across the federation.
The peaceful rally took off amidst tight security at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, around 8 am on Tuesday.
The organisers said the rally was a prelude to “Mother of All Rallies” to be staged simultaneously in all the 36 States’ Capitals and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Coordinator of the group, Comrade Awa Bamiji, said the exercise would continue as long the anti-Tinubu protests continued.
Awa Bamiji, in a statement on behalf of the group on Tuesday, said: “We, therefore, call on Inspector General of Police to henceforth intervene by stopping this ongoing show of shame by the Opposition, among whom are former President Olusegun Obasanjo; his former Deputy and Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“Others are Atiku’s running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Labour Party Candidate Peter Obi and his running mate Datti Baba Ahmed; Chief Emmanuel Nwayanwu; Chief Bode George; Pa Ayo Adebanjo among others.
“Their selfish interest, collective threat to our Democracy and continuous calling for the outright cancellation of the Presidential election to pave the way for an Interim National Government, a repeat of the June 12 saga, were well understood and had since become common knowledge.”
The statement added that the “silence of the DG of NIA; DG of DSS; the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies means Cabal in Aso Rock Villa is still at work.
“It’s no retreat, no surrender until May 29 inauguration becomes a reality. We are better experienced with the bitter experience of the June 12 election annulment exactly 30 years ago.”
Notable figures at the rally are Comrade Godwin Udhedhe Imenu and Bishop (Dr) Paul John; former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Mayegun; former Spokesman of the Lagos House of Assembly, Comrade Segun Olulade; Comrade Awa Bamiji; Tosin Adeyanju among others.