Popular artiste, Innocent Idibia, also known as Tuface, has canceled the much-publicised Monday, February 6 anti-government nationwide protest which has become a huge subject of debate in recent days. He cited “security concerns and public safety” as reasons for the volte-face.

In an Instagram post and a short video via his official handle @official2baba late Saturday, Tuface announced the cancellation of the protest scheduled to hold in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country.

He said, “Dear Nigerians, due to security concerns and public safety consideration, I hereby announce the cancellation of the march.”

Tuface’s sudden change of mind is being interpreted as a betrayal as many prominent Nigerians have already signed up to participate in the protest meant to draw government’s attention to the sufferings of the masses.

The Nigeria police warned against the protest after initially promising to provide security but the police was later countered by the Presidency which asked the popular musician to go ahead with his scheduled protest.

Police authorities said on Friday they had “credible intelligence” that other groups were planning a counter protests on the same day and at the same venues, saying the event could turn violent.

The police was right as a group styled, I stand with Buhari, announced pro-Buhari campaigns on Monday and Tuesday nationwide

Meantime, another group, this time Northern artistes who are members of the ruling party, the APC, has said they will not participate in the planned protest.