Police avert violent clash between pro, anti Buhari protesters in Abuja

In what could have turned out as a bloody encounter, the police on Friday averted violent clash between pro and anti-President Muhammadu Buhari protesters.

A group, Our Mumu Don Du, which is being led by Charley Boy, is protesting against the continued stay of Buhari in London, asking him to either return to the country or resign. The group started its protest on Tuesday.
But another group emerged on Thursday to counter the Charley Boy-led group, insisting that Buhari’s absence did not infringe any part of the constitution.
The pro-Buhari group, under the platform of Center for Civil Society and Justice, CCSJ, and led by one Comrade Prince Goodluck Obi Nelson, argued that the President should be left alone to recover fully from his ailment and continue his fight against corruption. It added that there is no vacuum in government.

But a mild drama ensued at the Unity Fountain, when the pro-Buhari groups arrived at the place while the anti-Buhari groups were already conducting their own protest.
What could have turned into a mayhem began when allegation and counter-allegations were raised as the pro-Buhari supporters approached the “Our Mumu Don Do ” group.

But the police and other security agencies quickly intervened and nipped the crisis in the bud.

In a statement signed by both Charly Boy and Deji Adeyanju and made to available to newsmen after the mild drama, the anti-Buhari group alleged that Aso Rock recruited some thugs to attack them.

The statement titled , “Resume or Resign : Aso Rock Working With Recruited Thugs to Attack Us,” the groups claimed that they were “reliably informed that these thugs are sponsored by the Federal Government and members of the cabal that seek to prevent us from asking for full disclosure of the health status of President Buhari.”

They also alleged that “the intention behind this attack and the plan to withdrawal the police from Unity Fountain is to leave our group open to attacks. These further attacks will then be used as a foundation to issue a blanket ban on peaceful gatherings such as ours under the guise of preventing further breakdown of law and order.”

The group, which claimed it would remain peaceful and yet “not be provoked into resorting to violence or any such activities that will violate our core principles and ethics,” also said that it is raising the alarm as it alleged that “aides to the President, the cabal and the security agencies” are “all playing the same script.”

Myke Uzendu Abuja