The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has alleged that a court order issued before the August 1st protest required that the protesters should be confined to the Moshood Abiola stadium during the protest in the FCT. He stated that the protesters organizers attempted to march to Eagle Square, defying the court’s order.
He identified the critical role of security agencies in preventing the potential chaos, hinting at the possible consequences if the crowd of protesters had reached the Eagle Square. He clarified the government’s stance, explaining that one primary reason for restricting the protest’s location is the concern that miscreants might exploit the situation to incite violence and destroy properties within the FCT.
He said in an interview with Channels TV From 1:18, ”We have stated categorically that we are not stopping protest but we are only appealing that people should give government some time. And that some of these issues will be resolved. And we have told the residents and indigenes of Abuja that we are doing quite a lot to change the lives of our people. You are aware that there was a court order as at yesterday. The Court did not stop protest but the Court said if you must protest, you must be confined to a particular area which is the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
And that the security agency should allow the protestants to convene at the Moshood Abiola Stadium and then talk to the world. And we believe that as a democratic society, while you want to carry out your protest, you must do it according to the law. But we all saw what happened today. The conveners of the protesters tried to move into the Eagle Square as against the Court order. And if not for the efforts of the security agencies, we don’t know what would have happened. We have come out to say clearly that one of the reason why the government do not want you to carry out this protest is that we believe some miscreants will take advantage and cause mayhem and destruction of properties within the FCT.”….Sêe_Morē