We rejected N200m bribe to stage protest against Tinubu, Matawalle — Northern group

A Northern advocacy group has claimed it turned down a N200 million bribe offered by proxies to mobilise a protest against President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna, the Northern Socio-Political Rights Network, NSPRN, alleged that the offer was made earlier in the week, with clear instructions to publicly accuse Tinubu of shielding Matawalle from corruption investigations.

President of the group, Mohammed Farouk Lawal, said the plot was part of a calculated campaign to weaken the Federal Government’s hold on the North-West by discrediting key appointees loyal to the president.

“We were approached by individuals claiming to represent high-ranking officials in Zamfara. They offered us N200 million to organise a large-scale protest in Abuja, targeting President Tinubu and Matawalle,” Lawal said.

“The aim was to give the impression that the North has turned against the president and that there is widespread outrage over the perceived protection of certain ministers from investigation. We rejected the offer outright.

“They are desperate for credibility. When they realised that our group had a clean record and strong grassroots following in the North, they thought buying us over would amplify their lies. But we are not for sale.”

According to him, some of the terms of the deal included reading out pre-written scripts at press conferences, staging a protest at the EFCC headquarters, and creating viral videos calling for Matawalle’s arrest.

The NSPR Network said the offer confirms that recent protests against the Minister of State for Defence were not grassroots-driven.

“What is happening is an internal war against Tinubu’s appointees. We have it on good authority that these attacks are designed to cause disaffection ahead of 2027. But this group will not be part of it,” Lawal declared.

The group urged security agencies to probe the source of funds allegedly being used to sponsor political protests in the capital, warning that if unchecked, such actions could pose a threat to national stability.

We rejected N200m bribe to stage protest against Tinubu, Matawalle — Northern group