Protesters under the auspices of APC Support Groups have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore last Monday’s rally against the so-called ‘cabal’ in his government.
The protesters led by Dr Symeon Chilagorom had told President Buhari to take back control of his government because Nigerians voted for him and not Mamman Daura, Ismaila Funtua, and Abba Kyari.
However, during Wednesday’s counter-protest walk from the Unity Fountain to the main entrance of the Presidential Villa, the support groups described anti-Kyari marchers as ‘blackmailers’.
Dr. Paul Dowells Essen, the convener of the rally, who read a protest letter submitted to the Villa to journalists, said Kyari and Daura were not dictating for President Buhari as being insinuated.
“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.
“We are members of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). We are pro-democracy, we are pro-Buhari, we believe in your leadership qualities and strength of governance as you continue to sail the affairs of this entity called Nigeria.
“As a people, we agreed to stand and defend democracy, which we did for sixteen years before clinching to power. The sacrifice of every individual is commendable, before, during and after the elections. Some are towards sustainable development, political or economical, the overall interest is Nigeria.
“We observed that, the two persons mentioned in a protest against you, Mamman Daura and Ismaila Funtua, are not government appointees. They are patriotic Nigerians and must not be related with the governance of the country as Mr President is fully in charge of the government.
“Your Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari is doing well. He is discharging his duty diligently, of course, those who want his office are not ghosts, they are neither PDP members, they are of the APC.
“While it’s the right of every individual to aspire, it should be done with every sense of respect for the Office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria,” part of the letter reads.
They also dismissed the notion that President Buhari “is not on the driver seat”, stressing that Nigerians would not have benefitted from the N-power, the Conditional Cash Transfer, and the Market money if the impression was correct.
They appealed to the president to concentrate his energy on developing Nigeria instead of listening to blackmailers.
The protesters carried placards showcasing the achievements of the current administration.
