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President Bola Tinubu’s allies are pressuring him to authorise a desperate strategy that could dramatically escalate the stakes of the raging nationwide protest against poverty and corruption, Peoples Gazette can report.

Two independent sources have briefed The Gazette about a plot that one of them described as “too sinister” to be allowed to proceed without being exposed, hoping its disclosure would put its proponents on the defensive and force the president to end the plot in its tracks.

“The discussion at the meeting was too dangerous for our country,” a source with information about what transpired at the parley said. “I support the president and all the efforts he’s making to get the protesters to call off their disruptive activities, but we have to put the country first by not taking extreme measures.”

The Gazette learnt that the meeting was held at about 11:00 a.m. on Monday, and it featured Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and ministers David Umahi, Nyesom Wike and Bello Matawalle among other officials. Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila coordinated the meeting on behalf of the president, who did not participate, our sources said.

Mr Tinubu had on Sunday announced his government’s desire to find urgent solutions to some of the issues animating the rallies across the country. He proposed an urgent removal of levies on food imports and additional support for poor seniors and low-wage earners, among others.

But protesters said the nationwide address did not go far enough and the protests, which began on August 1, would continue until further demands were met, especially a return of the subsidy regime and a radical reform to significantly deplete the federal budget and divert the funds to the poor masses instead.

Sources said Mr Wike, the FCT minister, was adamant that the president should not concede any further to the protesters, arguing instead that they would be tired and go home. But should the demonstrations move forward, the government should not hesitate to take steps that would make the price of further protests too high for participants.

Mr Wike had already taken measures to deter the protests in Abuja, including obtaining a series of dubious court orders to prohibit citizens from taking to the streets. But the court orders were ignored and the judges who granted them were mocked on social media for doing what critics described as transparently shoddy work.

Mr Wike’s turned to friendly judges in addition to previous government efforts to impede internet access nationwide and make it difficult for protesters to share multimedia from venues in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Ibadan, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and other cities around the country.

“They will get more hoodlums to cause more destruction and looting amongst the protesters, and kill some policemen, then the government will blame it on the protesters,” a senior administration official said, relaying how Mr Wike said the plan would go on. Messrs Gbajabiamila and Akpabio were said to have agreed with the plan.

Additional federal troops would be deployed to violently disperse protesters from grounds across the country, according to the source who was relaying Mr Wike’s argument. The Gazette reported last week that the military was preparing to intervene in the protests, which are guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.

“It could turn out to be the greatest mistake of the president if he follows this reckless recommendation,” another official said. “We have to continue to dialogue with the protesters, but the FCT minister didn’t seem to be interested in doing that.”

Already, at least 15 civilians have. been killed by security forces since the rallies began on Thursday. A police officer brazenly executed an unarmed protester in Azare, Bauchi, on Monday afternoon, prompting the governor to declare a curfew over the entire local government area.

Other officials suggested allowing the protests to go on until the protesters became too fatigued to proceed.

A presidential spokesperson said many recommendations came in, but no action can proceed without the president’s approval, which will be carefully considered. Messrs Gbajabiamila, Akpabio, Bamidale and Umahi declined comments to The Gazette about the meeting. Mr Matawalle could not be reached on Tuesday afternoon.

Philipponzaghi:
This narrative is nothing but a sensationalized attempt to paint our president in a bad light. Tinubu is focused on dialogue and finding solutions, not violence. Those pushing for extreme measures are clearly not on the side of progress. Let's support our president as he navigates these challenges!

NLCreator:
EXCLUSIVE: Wike, Gbajabiamila, Akpabio pressure Tinubu to sanction secret plot for hoodlums to kill police officers, blame it on #EndHunger protesters



https://gazettengr.com/exclusive-wike-gbajabiamila-akpabio-pressure-tinubu-to-sanction-secret-plot-for-hoodlums-to-kill-police-officers-blame-it-on-endhunger-protesters/

Massiveglory:
With the name of actors and hooligans listed in this movie, i believe this report.

DevilsEqual:
U be Obidients na

Una no dey analyse anything logically

Una own na to just see negative news and believe am like that


A psychologist, U say, but u really think every strict, who is also a disciplinarian is capable of extreme evil deeds

Massiveglory:
I call movie. I call hooligans. Online miscreant jump in because he knows his hooligans.

Salewa97:
This report is just another attempt to tarnish the image of our hardworking president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The focus should be on the constructive measures he’s proposing to alleviate poverty, not on baseless plots. Let's rally behind him as he navigates these challenges. Our nation deserves better! God bless President Tinubu!

Chinkoalhaji34:
No be lie, this one na serious matter.

Why dem go want to involve police in such nonsense? We need peace for this country, no be wahala.

Tinubu must show leadership now, make we no dey turn this matter to something wey go scatter everywhere.

Abeg, let the right thing be done!

DevilsEqual:
What kinda news is this?

This media house dey incite violence pass terrorists sef

Na why Military regime dey always gag dem be this