The Presidency and former lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, a member of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Council, have reacted to an alleged viral video showing President Bola Tinubu being booed after attending Juma’at prayers in Abuja.
Nigerian Newssphere reports that a video circulating on social media captured the moment the president was leaving the renovated Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja.
In the footage, some Muslim youths could be heard shouting “Ba Ma Yi”, a Hausa expression used to reject something or someone.
The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the Chief Imam offered prayers for Nigeria and President Tinubu.
However, in another video shared by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and described as the original footage, the presidential spokesperson dismissed claims that the president was booed.
Onanuga captioned the video: “Original footage of the rousing welcome accorded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Area 1 Garki Central Mosque today”.
The video is available on his X account:
https://x.com/aonanuga1956/status/2121362699842130414
Reacting to the first viral video, Melaye described the incident as a protest against Tinubu and his alleged ambition to seek re-election in 2027.
“Jumart prayer turned protest against Tinubu,” Melaye wrote on X.
Similarly, an X influencer, Ahmed Umar, popularly known as Ahmed Au, said the incident reflected growing frustration among Nigerians.
He wrote: “Nigerians are expressing their frustration! As Tinubu passed the Area 1 Central Mosque in Abuja, people shouted ‘Ba Ma Yi!'”
