The Coalition of Southern Groups has alleged that the “Free Nnamdi Kanu” protest held in Abuja on Monday was a politically motivated plot to destabilise Nigeria and discredit the judiciary.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking on ARISE Television, the group’s National Coordinator, Oladotun Hassan, claimed that intelligence gathered by the coalition indicated that the protest, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, was not a genuine call for justice but an orchestrated attempt to incite unrest and undermine state institutions.
“This was a politically intended protest to destabilise the country. It was a decoy targeted at the judiciary, and I was disappointed to see Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer participating. As a lawyer, you cannot protest against a sitting court handling an ongoing case,” Hassan said.
He accused the organisers of deliberately violating a court order restricting access to certain parts of Abuja, including Shehu Shagari Way and Transcorp Hilton, describing their actions as a calculated attempt to provoke security agencies.
Hassan further alleged that opposition figures were using the protest to stoke ethnic sentiments, particularly among the Igbo in the South-East.
“This is a plot to mislead the Igbo people. They are our brothers, but no one should use them as cannon fodder to advance political agendas,” he said.
According to him, the demonstration was “premeditated, well-funded and carefully orchestrated” to incite violence and create instability.
“We believe this is not about Nnamdi Kanu but a coordinated plan to discredit the government and threaten national security,” he added.
The coalition, he said, would present evidence of the alleged plot to security agencies, urging the Department of State Services (DSS), the police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to investigate the organisers.
“We are going to ensure that the law takes its course. The DSS and the police must act quickly to prevent further attempts to incite unrest under the guise of activism,” he said.
Hassan also criticised Sowore’s continued reliance on protests as a political tool, arguing that constructive engagement was a more productive approach.
“There are lawful means to engage the government through dialogue, research, or parliamentary channels. Constant protests only heighten tension and erode public trust,” he noted.
He condemned what he described as attempts to intimidate the judiciary while Kanu’s case was still before the court, insisting that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader must face due process.
Hassan maintained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had demonstrated democratic tolerance by allowing dissenting voices but warned that such tolerance should not be mistaken for weakness.
“The President is a democrat who respects free speech, but no one should abuse that freedom to cause chaos. What happened in Abuja was not activism—it was a calculated move to destabilise Nigeria,” he concluded.
