THE lawmaker representing FCT in the National Assembly, Senator Ireti Kingibe, has denied sponsoring the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in Abuja.
A video had gone viral alleging that she was sponsoring the protest. But Senator Kingibe described it as “misinformation”.
“I am shocked and outraged by the blatant lies and misinformation being spread by mischief-makers! The video being circulated is from over six weeks ago, during a Labour Party NWC meeting when the NLC was protesting outside the Labour Party office,” she said on X.
“As stakeholders, including Senators, House of Reps members, and Mr. Peter Obi, we went out to engage with the protesters and address their concerns. Now, these deceitful individuals are trying to pass off this old footage as current, claiming that Mr Peter Obi and I were leading protests in Abuja yesterday. This is a malicious and desperate attempt to discredit us,” she said.
“Let me set the record straight: Mr. Peter Obi is not in Abuja, and I haven’t left my house since Wednesday due to illness, much less distributed food and water at the protest grounds, though that would be noble for whoever did. I condemn this orchestrated attempt to spread falsehoods and cause confusion, using it as the basis to claim I sponsored the Abuja protest.
“It is a shameless and irresponsible act that will not be tolerated. We will not stand idly by while our names and reputations are dragged through the mud by these unscrupulous individuals.”
This newspaper reported that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, said security agencies have identified a Senator who allegedly sponsored protests in the nation’s capital.
He disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja after a security council meeting.
Though the minister did not disclose the identity of the senator, he alleged that the lawmaker provided food for the protesters.
“That is sponsorship. A senator providing food for protesters. At the appropriate time, security agencies will invite the senator and find out how you will be sponsoring this kind of thing against the government of the day.”
He further cautioned protesters in the nation’s capital to obey the court order and stick to the MKO Abiola Stadium for the protest.
According to the minister, security agencies got an intelligence report of persons wanting to hijack the peaceful protest which is the reason they want protesters in one place.
