Drama as groups protest for and against Buhari in Abuja

The protest led by the popular musician, Mr. Charles Oputa (Charlie Boy), at the Unity Fountain in Abuja to demand President Muhammadu Buhari’s immediate return to the country or his resignation, continued on Thursday with another group of protesters in support of the President.


The protesters under the aegis of #OurMumuDonDo#, as early as 9am were holding their protest when another group, Buhari Support Group under the auspices of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives arrived the scene putting up their own tent at the other end of the Unity Fountain.

The police and other security operatives on ground immediately took over the arena to avoid any clash and break down of law and order.

While the protesters against Buhari were monitored till the end of the activities, the other group for the President was allowed to carry placards chanting the goodwill of President Buhari.

The police authority also allowed them to move around town singing from the Unity Fountain through to the secretariat road.

The Buhari support group, the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives, led by Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi while condemning the activities of the #OurMumuDonDo#, said there is no cause for alarm over the President’s health.

The group also said there was no provision in the constitution that stipulates for how long the president can stay out of office while on medical vacation.

According to the group, what the President needed to do which is stipulated in the constitution was to transmit power to the Vice President through a letter to the National Assembly, which President Buhari already did before leaving for the UK.

At the other end of the Unity Fountain the #resume or resign protesters called on President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate integrity by resigning from office, saying he is incapacitated and cannot rule the country.

The civil society coalition members reminded Buhari that he asked late President Musa Yar’Adua to resign or be impeached when the latter was sick in 2010, stressing that he should toe the path honour by doing so.

Speaking to journalists on the fourth day of their protest at the Unity fountain, Maitama, Abuja on Thursday, the convener, Deji Adeyanju said Buhari should leave office if he knew what integrity meant.

He insisted the President should have done so within one month of leaving the country on medical leave.

Charlie Boy urged the youths to fight for their future by joining the campaign to compel Buhari to resign, insisting that Nigerians had the right to demand the health status of the President whose medical bills, he said were being paid by the public.