President Bola Tinubu’s senior aide on digital engagement, strategy and new media, O’tega Ogra, has dismissed claims that the president’s convoy was stoned by youths during his visit to a mosque in Abuja on Friday.
Tinubu had attended the Juma’at prayer at the Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1 of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where a video later circulated on social media showing some youths throwing stones at a convoy said to belong to the president.
The video was shared by Dino Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and quickly gained attention online. Some of the youths were heard chanting “Ba ma yi, ba ma so,” a Hausa expression meaning “we don’t want you; we don’t support you”.
However, Ogra disputed the narrative, describing the footage circulating online as misleading.
He subsequently shared a video showing Tinubu leaving the mosque after the prayers.
“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,” Ogra wrote.
In the video shared by the presidential aide, Tinubu, dressed in a white outfit and a black cap bearing his traditional insignia, was seen waving at youths who hailed him and took pictures with their mobile phones as he entered his official vehicle.
The conflicting accounts have emerged amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, with political parties and their supporters increasingly engaging in public campaigns and exchanges.
Earlier on Friday, Tinubu warned politicians and their supporters against political violence, directing security agencies to confront thuggery and other anti-democratic activities with full force.
In a statement personally signed by the president, he condemned reports of violence at political events across the country and urged political actors to focus their campaigns on issues relating to the welfare of Nigerians and national development.
Tinubu maintained that violence should have no place in political campaigns, stressing the need for peaceful political engagement as the country approaches the next general election.
