Self determination group accuses government of hiring foreign mercenaries to stage pro-Buhari protests

NIGERIAN self-determination groups organising protests outside the United Nations General Assembly in New York have accused the federal government of recruiting foreign mercenaries to hold rival demonstrations in support of the Buhari administration.

All week, the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (Ninas) has been protesting outside the United Nations (UN) building in New York where President Buhari is due to address the general assembly. In response, the government has organised counter-demonstrations, mobilising its own supporters to sing the praises of the Buhari administration.

Ninas chairman Professor Banji Akintoye, has accused the Nigerian government of hiring some black foreigners living in the US to do its dirty work. He added that one unnamed top government official from Kwara State and a popular journalist were paying $500 to black foreigners to stage counter protest against Ninas.

Tomorrow Friday September 24, Ninas plans to hold the grand finale of it demonstrations when President Buhari is actually addressing the general assembly. Ninas is hoping to attract 1m Nigerians living in the US  on to its march  which among other things is demanding the scrapping of the 1999 constitution and the designation of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (Macban) as a terrorist organisation.

Professor Akintoye said: “The Friday grand march in New York shall be historic, hence, the Nigerian government is jittery. The ringleader of government officials from Kwara State and a top Lagos journalist are now in New York to start hiring black people who will pretend as Nigerians to stage a Pro-Buhari and one Nigeria protest to counter Ninas on Friday.

“However, we refuse to be rattled and we shall not be intimidated as no oppressor has ever triumphed against the collective will of the people. The people are the government and power belongs to the people.

"The people make the constitution and sovereignty belongs to the people. Our own strength lies in the hands of the people, therefore, our march shall be people-entered and it shall be peaceful as usual.”