Some government officials of the Federal Capital Territory are facing serious allegations of attempting to undermine the ongoing nationwide protests against poverty and corruption in Nigeria by offering cash bribes to potential demonstrators.
According to a witness, Abuja municipal chairman Chris Maikalangu, working with the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has been accused of distributing N5,000 each to individuals preparing to join the protests in the nation’s capital on Friday.
The bribes were reportedly intended to dissuade citizens from participating in the demonstrations.
The witness also claimed that Maikalangu threatened violence against those who persisted in their right to peaceful assembly.
“I am among those who received N5,000. We were told not to participate in the protest,” he said.
Wike had been meeting young people and various groups in the six municiaal councils in the Nigerian capital, in what FCT officials described as a ”town hall.”
Wike had earlier faced criticism for allegedly securing dubious judicial mandates to obstruct the protests.
Wike’s actions have been viewed by many as efforts to curb the widespread public dissent against the government’s economic policies.
