The Presidency says it wishes to caution a section of the political class against misleading the public and inciting protests against the heads of military institutions.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the caution became necessary in view of received reports that about 2,000 men and women have been hired to demonstrate against Nigeria’s service chiefs on Monday.
This imminent gathering is the latest in a series of demonstrations orchestrated by the opposition to embarrass the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement added that as part of the overall scheme, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with its belligerent politics, has been marching from one embassy to the other in protest against the Buhari administration and the country’s highest court of justice, the Supreme Court adding that they are keen to give the impression that Nigerians are in support of them as they take to the streets, and they will go to any length to promote this false narrative.
It notes the recent incident in Maiduguri, Borno State, where an overwhelmingly cheering crowd gathered to welcome President Buhari but a handful were recorded booing to mislead the public as some analysts have tried to do, to read this as verdict against President Buhari, who emerged winner with 94 per cent of the votes cast in the Presidential election in the State in February last year.
The statement urges the media to remain unbiased and discerning in their reporting, instead of becoming unwitting tools in the hands of the opposition.
