A presidential aide, O’tega Ogra, has dismissed reports that President Bola Tinubu’s convoy was pelted with stones by angry youths after Friday prayers at a mosque in Abuja.
Ogra, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, challenged the reports by releasing a video showing Tinubu leaving the mosque amid cheers from some supporters.
The controversy followed Tinubu’s attendance at the Juma’at prayer at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, on Friday.
Shortly after the prayer, Dino Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), shared a video on social media showing some youths throwing objects towards a convoy believed to belong to the President.
Some of the individuals in the footage could also be heard chanting, “Ba ma yi, ba ma so”, a Hausa expression meaning “we don’t want you; we don’t support you”.
The video quickly circulated on social media, triggering reactions over the reported incident.
However, Ogra disputed the interpretation of the footage, describing the narrative being circulated by opposition figures as misleading.
Sharing another video showing Tinubu’s departure from the mosque, the presidential aide 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.”
In the video released by Ogra, Tinubu, dressed in a white traditional outfit and a black cap bearing his insignia, was seen waving at people who gathered around his official vehicle.
Some members of the crowd were also seen hailing the President and taking photographs as his convoy departed.
The aide’s response came amid growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 general election.
On Friday, Tinubu warned politicians and their supporters against political violence, thuggery and other activities capable of undermining democratic processes.
In a statement personally signed by him, the President directed security agencies to confront political thuggery and other anti-democratic activities with full force.
He also condemned recent reports of violence at political gatherings, insisting that election campaigns should focus on policies, ideas and proposals that would improve Nigerians’ welfare.
Tinubu maintained that violence should have no place in political campaigns.
The Presidency’s response has added another dimension to the controversy, although the competing videos have not independently established whether stones were thrown at the presidential convoy.
