The group said that they were utilized during the 2015 presidential campaign by providing security and protocol services in all 36 States for Mr. Buhari and his campaign team, but have been abandoned for one and half years since the inauguration without salaries or jobs.
A group calling themselves Former Bodyguards and Protocol Officers staged a protest today over their abandonment and non-payment of salaries by the government. Protesters at the rally threatened to “expose secrets” of President Muhammadu Buhari and his “cabal” if the government refused to utilize and pay for their services as promised.
The group said that they were utilized during the 2015 presidential campaign by providing security and protocol services in all 36 States for Mr. Buhari and his campaign team, but have been abandoned for one and half years since the inauguration without salaries or jobs.
The coordinator of the group, Olabiyi Balogun, made this revelation at the Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign Organization on Thursday in Abuja during the protest by the members of the group.
He noted that the group has filed written and verbal complaints to the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie Oyegun, and the First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari, without any response.
Mr. Olabiyi frowned at the lopsidedness in appointments made by Mr. Buhari, saying those that are given appointments did not work for the party in any capacity. He noted that the organization has not paid them since February 2015.
He added that their group has lost three of their members who were hacked to death by unknown gunmen during the campaign and their families have not been compensated.
The group accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the Administrative Officer to the President, Abdullahi Meikano, and the Secretary to the Government of Federation, David Lawal, of being the most responsible for their abandonment and neglect.
Additionally, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahaman Danbazzau, was accused of collecting N1.5 million monthly on their behalf without making the money available to them.
The members of the group had staged a protest earlier today but were prevented from entry by armed mobile policemen who locked the main gate of the building. Some members of the group who were inside were not allowed to go out.
As at time of this report the policemen have vacated the premises but the protesters have stayed put at the gate, raining curses on the president and his campaign team for using them to win election and eventually dumping them.
