Indigenes and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have accused opposition politicians of sponsoring the protest that greeted President Bola Tinubu at a mosque in Abuja, alleging that the demonstration was aimed at portraying the President as unpopular and undermining his administration.
The residents, however, reaffirmed their support for Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, pledging to mobilise 65 per cent of votes in the territory for the President’s re-election in 2027.
The Supreme Leader of FCT Youths, Ambassador Isaac David, stated this on Saturday in a press statement reacting to the incident at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque, Area 1, Garki, Abuja, where Tinubu observed Friday prayers on November 13.
The President reportedly faced boos and hostile chants from some worshippers and youths, who shouted “Tinubu Must Go”, “Ba ma so” and “Ba ma yi” as his convoy departed the mosque.
The incident sparked widespread reactions following the circulation of videos on social media, alongside reports that some individuals threw stones and other objects towards the presidential convoy. The Presidency, however, disputed claims that the convoy was attacked.
In his reaction, David alleged that some of the protesters were brought into Abuja from other states after information about the President’s planned visit to the mosque became public.
He accused opposition interests of sponsoring the demonstration to manufacture public discontent, create negative publicity and misrepresent the political disposition of FCT residents.
David insisted that the protesters did not represent the indigenous population or the collective interests of residents of the territory.
“Those individuals do not represent FCT natives, they do not represent FCT youths, and they certainly do not speak for the genuine voters of the territory.
“Information available to us indicates that they were brought into the FCT from different states following the announcement that Mr President would observe Friday prayers at the mosque. We believe they were sponsored to create negative publicity, mislead Nigerians and portray the President as unpopular,” he said.
The youth leader maintained that the actions of the protesters should not be interpreted as the position of indigenous communities, stressing that original inhabitants had the right to determine their political choices without what he described as external manipulation.
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He further accused opposition politicians of exploiting the incident to discredit the Tinubu administration through Wike, particularly by questioning the minister’s performance and commitment to development in the territory.
According to David, the alleged campaign was intended to create the impression that the FCT administration had failed to deliver on its promises despite ongoing government interventions and infrastructure projects.
“The opposition wants to exploit this incident for cheap political advantage. Their intention is to deceive Nigerians, gain popularity on social media and discredit the good work of President Tinubu through the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
“They also want to portray the minister as someone who has done nothing for the territory and cannot fulfil his promises. We reject that narrative. The actions of a few individuals cannot erase the realities of development in our communities or determine the position of the original inhabitants,” David stated.
Reaffirming the organisation’s political position ahead of the 2027 general elections, he said the Abuja Original Inhabitant Youths Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO) and its members would intensify grassroots mobilisation to secure support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
He described the 65 per cent vote target as a commitment by the organisation, which he said was informed by the President’s perceived recognition of the interests of original inhabitants through the Renewed Hope agenda.
“Our commitment remains firm. We have promised and vowed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must receive 65 per cent of our votes in the FCT in 2027.
“This is not merely a political slogan. It is our commitment to a President whom we believe has demonstrated concern for the original inhabitants through the Renewed Hope agenda,” he added.
David also called on political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint and refrain from exploiting isolated incidents for political advantage, warning that the circulation of unverified information could heighten tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged residents to exercise caution when sharing politically sensitive content on social media and encouraged peaceful engagement, accountability and respect for differing opinions.
The FCT youths leader reiterated the organisation’s support for Tinubu and the FCT administration, insisting that political disagreements should not undermine peaceful coexistence, development and the legitimate interests of indigenous communities.
