· ‘Lawmaker will face security probe’
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday alleged that a senator was sponsoring protest against the government.
The minister did not name the senator.
According to the minister, intelligence showed that the said senator engaged some security agencies to lead the sponsors to provide food for the protesters.
Wike made the claim after holding an emergency Security Council meeting of the FCT last night.
“Shortly, the senator will be invited by security agencies for proper questioning,” Wike said.
The minister, who admitted that protest is allowed in democratic settings, said the protesters have been restricted to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, adding that they should go there today and continue with their protest.
The minister also claim to be privy to an intelligence that some people plan to come out tomorrow (Friday) to destroy property that will lead to loss of lives.
He urged the planners to drop the idea, warning that the security agencies will not allow such to happen.
Wike said: “We had said before now that we will continue to brief the press as we monitor the protest of people who say they are protesting against bad governance and hunger in the country. We believe that this is a democratic government and so we must act according to the rule of law.
“We also believe that this protesting is their entitlement so that the government can address the issues raised. Obeying the rule of law is obeying court orders.
“We are doing quite a lot to change the lives of the people. You are aware of the court order yesterday. The court did not stop protests; it only restricted them to the National Stadium. 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.
“You saw what happened today where some people tried to move into the Eagle Square. Miscreants may not have succeeded in what they wanted to do, but we have intelligence that they are coming out tomorrow (today) to destroy property that will lead to loss of lives.
“The security agencies will not allow that. Every protester, please, go to the MKO Abiola Stadium and do your protest. That is what the court 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 you will be sponsoring this kind of thing against the government of the day
