Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari's 100-day-long overseas medical trip is stoking tensions inwards the country, every bit calls grow for him to either provide or resign.
Buhari, a northern Muslim, has been inwards London since May seven to have handling for an undisclosed ailment, appointing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a southern Christian, to deed on his behalf.
There accept been serial of rallies inwards Abuja since August seven over the long absence of the 74-year-old retired full general who led a armed services regime inwards the 1980s.
On Tuesday, vocalizer as well as media personality Charles Oputa, known every bit "Charly Boy", led a little rally of but about a dozen of his followers into the city's sprawling Wuse market.
They were attacked yesteryear traders from the president's ain Hausa ethnic group, pelted alongside stones as well as chased out of the marketplace position -- leaving behind Oputa's BMW convertible inwards the chaos.
The clash highlighted the divisions plaguing the nation of 190 million, alongside many inwards the northern Hausa community fiercely protective of their president's medical absence spell many southern people similar Oputa are openly critical of their absentee leader.
It every bit good set bare the frail carve upwardly betwixt the bulk Muslim N as well as the predominantly Christian S that characterises Nigeria as well as underpins the country's fractious politics.
The carefully orchestrated rotation of political ability inwards Nigeria is seen every bit a balancing strength betwixt the N as well as the south.
"With this tension inwards the province he's non supposed to come upwardly to the market," said immigration police clitoris officeholder D. Etsu who left the expanse afterward the incident for his ain safety.
"They tin produce anything, these boys, they tin kill him as well as give the sack his car," added a bystander who declined to hold upwardly named.
Just ahead of his catch to Wuse, Oputa said the president's absence was testing the public's patience.
'Return or resign'
"How long tin he hold upwardly missing? That's why nosotros are maxim provide or resign," he told AFP, wearing a dark as well as white bandana as well as motorbike leathers. "Give it to someone who tin produce the work."
But away from Hausa-dominated areas similar the marketplace, Oputa has drawn adoring crowds as well as a committed next for his daily vigils against the president at Abuja's Unity Fountain which are directly entering their 3rd week.
Until Tuesday's clash the media had been the original battleground for the combat but about Buhari's absence.
The local press has been hold upwardly alongside comment pieces, some calling for the president to footstep downwards as well as others accusing his critics of treason.
Some commentators accept fifty-fifty speculated that Buhari died during his convalescence inwards London, a fact they believe is existence covered upwardly yesteryear the authorities.
And on social media #ReturnOrResign has punctuated discussions close the futurity of the country.
One intelligence site has a digital counter showing how long Buhari has been out of the country, reaching 100 days on Wednesday.
Oputa's daily protestation vigils accept been largely eclipsed yesteryear far greater numbers of well-organised pro-Buhari demonstrators.
Sixteen bus-loads of tightly controlled immature Muslim men from northern Kano province fanned out but about the dry out Unity Fountain on Monday, wielding placards alongside slogans defending the president.
'There's no vacuum'
Two organisers approached yesteryear AFP insisted the contingent was non sponsored yesteryear the government.
"The constitution allows Mr President to exit as well as seek medical attention," said 36-year-old Adeshina Luckman of the Conference of Patriotic Nigerians. "As far every bit nosotros are concerned, there's no vacuum."
Amaka Anthony, 43, a teacher, said the president's absence had "not made much difference".
"There are those who correspond him who should hold upwardly able to grip it," she said.
She mightiness hold upwardly right. The acting president's peace talks alongside armed fighters inwards the Niger delta accept helped stop attacks on crude infrastructure, lifting output as well as boosting regime coffers.
Last week, Buhari published a photograph of himself alongside top aides at the Nigerian diplomatic residence inwards London receiving an oversized acquire good card.
"I experience I could acquire home," he said inwards a statement. "But the doctors are inwards charge. I've directly learnt to obey orders, rather than hold upwardly obeyed."
Some Nigerians rest sceptical close the president's behaviour.
"Back inwards 2010 when our one-time president, the belatedly Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, was sick... Buhari was amid those who clamoured for him to resign," said Samuel, a 25-year-old line of piece of occupation organization consultant based inwards Lagos.
"That's hypocrisy if you lot enquire me.”
AFP