Femi Fani-Kayode, a leading opposition figure in Nigeria, has revealed that ‘Resume or Resign’ protesters triggered the impromptu exit of ailing President Muhammadu Buhari from London in August, 2017.
In an interview with the African Independent Television, AIT, Chief Fani-Kayode revealed that presidential aides went outside during the protest and pleaded with the protesters to stop the protest because “the president is trying to sleep”.
The protest was approved by the London Metropolitan Police who were guarding the protesters in front of Abuja House on August 17, 2017. It was an all night protest and the protesters demanded that the ailing septuagenarian returned home or resigned if he is unable to perform his duties as president.
Fani-Kayode revealed in the interview that President Buhari felt embarrassed by the protest in London and the fact that the London police would approve the protest outside the Abuja House where he was staying while receiving medical treatment, prompting him to wake up and declare he was returning to Nigeria abruptly.
In an opinion editorial published on The Trent on Thursday, August 31, 2017, the prominent thought leader, Lai Mohammed, the information minister of Nigeria has threatened to shut down AIT if the station aired the explosive interview.
The ‘Resume of Resign’ protests was led by Charly Boy, an iconic Nigerian entertainer and Deji Adeyanju, a former social media leader in the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
The protesters were attacked by police in Abuja that same week. Charly Boy, reportedly collapsed as he was tear gassed and attacked with water canons by the Nigerian police. A Silverbird journalist was attacked and his camera confiscated. One other activist was hospitalised after the brutal attack.
You may watch the entire 25-minute video below.
