The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has said weird singer, Charles Oputa (Charly Boy), ‘overdramatised’ his plight in the picture that showed him collapsing to the ground after being teargassed, alongside other anti-Buhari protesters in Abuja.
“You can see over-dramatization by the leader (Oputa) of the protesters, who was sitting on a chair and because the camera was coming to his side … decided to fall down”, Jimoh Moshood, spokesman for the NPF told presenters on a breakfast programme on Channels television.
Moshood was convinced about his assertion, adding that ‘Charly Boy after falling to the ground stood up to appear on African Independent Television, AIT, to narrate the incident.
The spokesman said police used minimal force to disperse the scanty crowd, alluding miscreants infiltrated the protest.
“Miscreants mixed with the protesters, police intervened to disperse”, Moshood claimed.
However, the protesters claimed they were no more than 10 and didn’t have any strangers among them.
Changing from its initial condemnation of the protest, the Nigeria Senate Wednesday spoke against the police brutalising the protesters.
Abdullahi Sabi, Senate spokesman, said: “While we are opposed to the subject of the protest, the Senate acknowledges the fact that the protesters have the constitutional right to gather and express their views in a manner that will not breach public peace, order and tranquility,” said.
“Since the ‘Our-Mumu-Don-Do’ protesters did not conduct themselves in such a manner as to disturb public peace, it is not right for the police to brutalize the people as they reportedly did yesterday.
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“The police should review their rules of engagement and ensure that they are in line with that of modern democratic societies. The rights of the people should not be violated by the police employed to protect these rights.
“We however urge the organizers of the protest to join other Nigerians in praying for the safe return of President Buhari. They should note that any mortal being can find himself in the situation where one needs medical attention and more time to fully recuperate.”
“More so, when in the present case, the President complied with the provisions of the Constitution and all organs of government are not impaired nor hindered by his medical vacation.”
Charly Boy, is the convener of “OurMumuDonDo” group, which is protesting the absence of ailing President Muhammadu Buhari from the country.