Pro-government group emerged on Thursday around the National Stadium to discourage FCT residents from participating in the hunger/bad governance protest.
The youth group who came around with about eight (8) Coastal Buses, were carrying placards and shouting no protest.
Speaking, the leader of the group, Blessing Joel said, “We are not here to protest against the government, we are here to let the government know that we are solidly behind them. Instead of doing this protest in a wrong way, it is better we have a good dialogue with the President. We believe that a good dialogue with the President will bring a better outcome.
“We the youth in Nigeria are not among those that want to vandalise this country with the protest, we are not among those who want to cause chaos in this protest because two wrongs can not make a right. That is why we say because the President is a father, and is a lover of the youth, and he has said, he has the youth at heart, so with the peaceful protest like this, we believe the President will answer us”, he said.
Asked if he was compromised, he said, “God forbid, I will not be compromised, because we are lover of peace in FCT. I am the Director of Social like I said before, we cannot go against the wishes of government or the President. That is why we are here to demonstrate a peaceful protest, to let the Presidency know that we are with them”.
On while he chose to betray other youths who were out genuinely to protest against the hunger and hardship in the country, he said, ‘I can’t betray my brothers. It’s true that there is hunger in the country, but we believe that with good dialogue with the President, he will hear our cry”.
On who is bankrolling their own demonstration, or paid for the eight (8) Coastal Buses that conveyed them to the National Stadium, he said, “nobody”.
Meanwhile, at the background some of the members of the group, who were seen smiling, were shouting, “we are hungry, but no protest”.
TheFact Daily later gathered that they were paid N5,000 each, to protest in favour of the government , while the Coastal Bus drivers were paid N80,000 each to convey them.
Although that has not deterred the ‘Take It Back Movement’ as they continued with the peaceful protest as planned.
The protest that started peacefully, may turn violent as the Police is currently shooting teargas around the Eagle Square to disperse the protesters.
