Save Nigeria Group [SNG] stormed the streets of Abuja today [March 10, 2010] to protest continued absence of the president of Nigeria from the public view of Nigerian citizens and to the governing council.

The protest which was organized by the consortium of well known activist in the likes of Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana and others – saw the attendance of over 3000 protesters. Wole Soyinka was not in attendance. And the protest was slated to take off 9am at the Unity Park located opposite the Transcorp Hotel. But it did not begin till 11am. Participants were however energized and vitalized by the demeanor wore by the police. The police appeared friendly and distant from the protesters.

The protesters carried various placards. Some of the placards read, “Dissolve EXCOF Now”, On Uwais Report we stand”, “Turai leave Nigeria alone”, “Ministers are serving only the Cabal – sack them”, “Governors are part of the cabal”, Nigerians say, end invisible presidency”. The voice of Femi Falamo was heard through the speakers mounted on the pickup vans parked along the Unity Park. He was not seen.

The protesters in a peaceful but loud manner walked towards the legislative chambers. They were stopped by the police at the secretariat. At the secretariat, an official letter was read to the Secretary to the Federal Government [SFG] who had indicated that he was sent by the Acting President.

He received the letter and assured the crowd that he will deliver the letter to the federal government. He also thanked the protesters for their eagerness to tap into democratic avenues to express their grievances. He was however booed as he told the agitated crowd that the “presidency is the presidency”, that “they should find political parties of their choice and join them”. As the boos grew and the crowd got more agitated, the military presence grew around the SFG. And the SFG was immediately whisked away.

Interestingly, many of the protesters carried placards with Maurice Iwu’s picture that read “Iwu must go”. Upon further inquiry as to the INEC Chairman’s influence to the continued absence of the president and the delay in crowning the Acting President, the president – yielded an unpleasant dimension to the protest.

As gathered, political re-mechanizations due to realignments within the Action Congress and the collapsing Mega Party may have raised its presence in the Save Nigeria Group. Sources report that Buhari has joined the Action Congress - and has abandoned the Mega Party platform. Tinubu is to deputize him. And the Action Congress is to change its name to Action Congress Nigeria. The source notes that the SNG movement is partly operating via the financial support of Tinubu to achieve the dismantling of the PDP against the presidential electioneering campaign of 2011.