The Presidency has pushed back against reports of an alleged attack on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s convoy following his appearance at a Friday congregational prayer in Abuja, after a video showing youths throwing stones at a vehicle convoy triggered widespread discussions on social media.
O’tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, questioned the account surrounding the incident, releasing separate footage which showed Tinubu leaving the Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1 of the Federal Capital Territory without any visible confrontation.
The controversy emerged on Friday after the president attended the Juma’at prayer at the mosque as part of his activities in the nation’s capital.
While the visit appeared to have ended peacefully, a video subsequently shared by Dino Melaye, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), introduced a different dimension to the development.
The recording showed a group of youths throwing stones at a convoy believed to be connected to the president. Some of those captured in the footage were also heard expressing their dissatisfaction through chants in Hausa.
“Ba ma yi, ba ma so,” the youths repeatedly shouted, an expression that translates to “we don’t want you; we don’t support you”.
The footage quickly gained attention across social media platforms, generating questions about the security of the presidential convoy and the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
However, the Presidency challenged the impression created by the circulating video, with Ogra presenting another recording to show what happened when Tinubu departed the mosque after the religious gathering.
In his response, the presidential aide accused opposition elements of pushing a misleading version of events, suggesting that the video being circulated was intended to create a negative impression about the president’s public appearance.
Sharing the alternative footage, Ogra wrote: “Contrary to the narrative being pushed by the opposition, with videos of their alleged paid thugs at the National Mosque today, here is footage of Mr President leaving the mosque after Friday prayers this afternoon.”
The video released by the presidential aide captured Tinubu dressed in a white traditional outfit and a black cap as he made his way towards his official vehicle.
Several young people were seen gathered around the president, cheering and attempting to take photographs with their mobile phones. Tinubu responded by waving at the crowd before entering his vehicle.
The atmosphere captured in the recording appeared calm, with no visible indication of hostility among the people surrounding the president at the point shown.
Ogra’s intervention was an attempt to counter the narrative generated by Melaye’s video, particularly claims suggesting that the president encountered hostility following his religious engagement in Abuja.
However, the two recordings have not independently established whether they were taken at the same location or at different points along the presidential convoy’s movement.
While the footage released by Ogra showed a peaceful departure from the mosque, it did not conclusively establish whether the incident captured in Melaye’s video occurred elsewhere along the route taken by the president.
Consequently, the circumstances surrounding the alleged confrontation remain an important part of the developing story, as the separate videos present different scenes without providing a complete account of what happened.
Tinubu warns against political violence
The development comes at a time when political activities are gradually gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, with concerns growing over confrontations involving supporters of different political parties.
President Tinubu had earlier addressed the issue of political violence in a statement personally signed by him on Friday, warning politicians and their supporters against turning political disagreements into physical confrontations.
The president condemned reported incidents of violence at political gatherings across the country, describing such conduct as unacceptable and inconsistent with democratic principles.
He maintained that political competition should be based on ideas, policies and the ability of candidates to address the challenges facing Nigerians rather than intimidation or the use of force.
Tinubu also directed security agencies to take firm action against individuals involved in political thuggery and other activities capable of threatening public order.
According to the president, the security authorities have been authorised to deal decisively with those seeking to disrupt political activities or undermine the country’s democratic process through violence.
His warning comes amid increasing political manoeuvring by parties and their supporters as preparations for the next general election continue.
The president also urged political stakeholders to exercise restraint and ensure that their activities do not endanger the lives of Nigerians or create unnecessary tension within communities.
He emphasised that political campaigns should provide opportunities for candidates to explain their programmes and convince voters rather than become platforms for threats, attacks and intimidation.
The president further encouraged politicians to concentrate on matters directly affecting the population, particularly economic challenges, citizens’ welfare and national development.
Social media videos generate questions
The disagreement between the two accounts has also brought attention to the growing influence of social media in shaping public understanding of political developments.
Videos shared online can attract thousands of reactions within minutes, particularly when they involve prominent political figures or incidents capable of generating public controversy.
However, without sufficient information about the location, timing and circumstances surrounding a recording, it can be difficult to establish the full sequence of events from isolated footage.
In the Abuja incident, Ogra relied on the video showing Tinubu’s departure from the mosque to challenge the interpretation attached to Melaye’s recording.
Melaye’s video, on the other hand, showed youths throwing objects at a convoy believed to belong to the president, although the available footage did not independently establish the exact circumstances surrounding the scene.
The distinction is important because a peaceful departure from one location does not automatically rule out the possibility of a separate confrontation elsewhere.
As discussions surrounding the incident continue, the conflicting accounts have placed renewed attention on presidential security and the need for political activities to take place without intimidation or violence.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Tinubu’s warning against political thuggery has further highlighted the responsibility of political parties, their supporters and security agencies to ensure that disagreements do not escalate into public disorder.
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