Another group in the All Progressive Congress (APC) ruling claimed that some people in government were sabotaging President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The group raised the allegation on Wednesday when they held a protest against one held two days previously in Abuja during which another group claimed a cabal had taken over the government.
The APC’s Concerned National Stakeholders, who were behind Monday’s previous march, accused President Buhari of delaying fulfilling his campaign commitments and blamed his administration for supposed laxity on “internal forces.”
During Monday’s protest at the Maitama Defense House, Abuja, Symeon Chilagorom-led group said some important people took over the president’s government.
It listed the people as the president’s chief of staff, Abba Kyari ; and the president’s two friends, Mamman Daura and Ismaila Funtua, commonly thought to be influential in his government.
It said the president did not deliver on the party’s “change” mantra and questioned the chances of the fresh “Next Level” agenda being delivered.
The presidency rejected the demonstrators on Tuesday as sponsored by public rivals.
The counter-protesters marched on Wednesday from the Unity Fountain in the Central Business District to the primary door of Aso Villa with multiple placards trumpeting the administration’s achievements.
The protesters accused the former group of being blackmailers in a letter to the president read by the march’s convener to journalists, Paul Essen, and urged Nigerians not to pay attention to it.
The demonstrators, who defined themselves as “Pro-Democracy and Pro-Buhari,” said they had faith in Mr Buhari’s leadership qualities.
But they also recognized his administration’s supposed presence of saboteurs.
“Your Excellency Sir, the sabotage within the corridor of power is becoming more alarming with the recent sponsored campaign against Mr. President under the guise of Mamman Daura, Ismaila Funtua and Abba Kyari.
“Mr President Sir, you are on the driver seat, not on the passenger seat as speculated by few members of our party acting the script of a man who claims to be your supporter, your coordinator, and even the coordinator of government affairs.
“This shows that the enemies are within, you must be careful such persons around you, Sir.
“Your Excellency Sir, our democracy must be sustained, somebody is trying to paint your image in a bad light after achieving so much in the last four years. We cannot fold our arms and allow few individuals to ruin the country by blackmailing Mr President in a view to box him to the corner,” the letter read.
The group listed some of the accomplishments of the Buhari administration and appealed to the president to “concentrate his energy in developing Nigeria instead of listening to those who intend to blackmail him.”
