The Presidency has challenged reports that President Bola Tinubu’s convoy came under attack from angry youths after he observed Friday prayers at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, insisting that videos circulating on social media misrepresented what happened.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, O’tega Ogra, described the footage showing youths allegedly throwing stones at a convoy believed to belong to Tinubu as “misleading”.
Ogra maintained that footage released by the Presidency showed the President departing the mosque peacefully after observing the Juma’at prayer.
However, in an earlier footage, Tinubu was seen booed by some aggrieved worshippers and residents shortly after attending the Friday prayers at the mosque.
The incident reportedly occurred as the President’s convoy prepared to leave the premises, with some people in the crowd chanting slogans expressing dissatisfaction with his administration.
Videos reportedly obtained from the scene captured some members of the crowd chanting “Ba mayi, ba ma so”, a Hausa expression translated as “We don’t want you; we don’t support you”.
Others were also heard chanting “Tinubu Must Go”, a slogan associated with opposition to the President’s re-election ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
An eyewitness who attended the prayers reportedly attributed the protest to restrictions allegedly imposed on worshippers because of the President’s visit.
But Ogra disputed the account in a post on his X handle on Friday, sharing a separate video showing Tinubu leaving the mosque after the prayers.
“Contrary to the narrative being pushed by the opposition, with videos of their alleged paid thugs at the National Mosque today, here is footage of Mr President leaving the mosque after Friday prayers this afternoon,” he wrote.
In the video, Tinubu, dressed in a white outfit and a black cap bearing his traditional insignia, was seen acknowledging supporters who waved at him and took photographs as he approached his official vehicle.
Nevertheless, accounts published by other media organisations provided further details of the incident, including allegations that some worshippers were prevented from entering or leaving the mosque during the President’s visit.
The controversy emerged hours before Tinubu issued a warning against political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully.
In a statement personally signed on Friday, the President condemned reported acts of violence at political gatherings across the country and called on political stakeholders to shun violence.
He also disclosed that security agencies had been authorised to confront thuggery and other anti-democratic activities with full force.
Tinubu urged political parties and their candidates to concentrate on presenting policies, ideas and proposals that would improve the welfare of Nigerians and promote national development.
He further reiterated his commitment to ensuring a peaceful, free and fair electoral process, stressing that political disagreements should not turn Nigerians against one another.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions about the President’s reception during public engagements and the security arrangements surrounding his movements as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
(SAHARA REPORTERS)
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