Resume or resign : Pro- and anti- government protesters clash averted

The police on Friday prevented a violent confrontation between the #resumeorresign# coalition and pro-government protesters at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja.

The Charlie Boy-led protesters were observing the fifth day of their sit-out at the venue when members of the pro-government group, Centre for Fairness and Justice, stormed the garden and attempted to attack them.

But the police quickly formed a cordon around the #resumeorresign# protesters and shielded them from the adversarial move of the government supporters.

The hostile protesters accused the coalition members of clamouring for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation because they supported corruption.

The coalition members, who appeared unruffled by the averted violence, rounded off their sit-out shortly afterwards and left the garden for the pro-government supporters who danced for almost an hour singing, “Buhari kills corruption.”

The leader of the group, Goodluck Obi, said Buhari had not done anything wrong to warrant the demand for his resignation by the #resumeorresign# group.

He argued that the President had done well in the fight against corruption and should be supported by every Nigerian.

According to him, those calling for Buhari’s resignation are simply against the government’s pro-people programmes.

“Buhari has done well and he should be allowed to rest well before returning to the country. His war against corruption is not selective, even a member of his cabinet, I won’t mention names, who was indicted for corruption was charged to court, so it is wrong for anyone to ask the President to resign,” he stated.

About two other placard-carrying pro-government groups also registered their support for the government.

A lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, had flayed the police for breaching the rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and movement, noting that the Tuesday attack on the #resumeorresign# protesters was barbaric and condemnable.

The activist, who is the Convener, Office of the Citizens of the Federal Republic, said the assault on the protesters was in breach of the constitution, urging the government to call the police to order.