Omoyele Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNow Protests, and the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, has been accused by the Nigeria Police Force of trying to force a regime change in the country.
The Police said inciting Nigerians, home and abroad, to join a planned ‘revolution’ march against the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday, August 5, amounts to treasonable felony and acts of terrorism.
Sowore, pro-democracy activist and the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last general elections, had been sensitising a critical mass of Nigerians, through various platforms, in readiness for #RevolutionNow, a series of planned protests against bad governance, scheduled for tomorrow.
But operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) arrested him in the early hours of Saturday at about 1.25 a.m. in his apartment.
In a statement yesterday, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said the Police would not stand idly-by and watch any individual or group in the society cause anarchy in the country.
He said: “While acknowledging the rights of Nigerians to embark on protest, the Force wishes to note that such rights should not translate to a violent and forceful change of government, which clearly is the meaning of ‘revolution.’ Needless to state that Nigeria is a democratic republic and has well-defined processes for change of government, exercised periodically during various cycle of elections.
“The Force therefore warns the organisers, sponsors, allies, supporters, associates and sympathisers of the group ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’ to, in their own interest, steer clear of any such planned protest, demonstration, acts of incitement and proposed “revolution”, as the full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any individual or group engaged or found participating in the planned criminal act.”
Mba called on parents and guardians to impress on their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used by any person or group of persons to cause breach of law and order, as the Police would work with other Law Enforcement Agencies and positive minded Nigerians to protect, defend and secure public peace and space.
Sowore’s arrest has, however, drawn widespread condemnation, with Nigerians calling for his immediate release.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Lagos State Branch, and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called for the immediate and unconditional release of Sowore.
In a statement by the chairman of its Lagos branch, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, CDHR reminded President Muhammadu Buhari that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, gave Sowore or any other Nigerian, the right to protest and freedom of expression with right to lawful assembly.
“The President must be called to order by the National Assembly and he must know that this is a Democratic government not military government,” the group said.
HURIWA stressed that the arrest of Sowore was a culmination of the systematic clampdown and organised brutish attacks, targeting persons and groups with divergent opinion.
In a statement by the national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group accused the DSS of illegally bugging telephones of prominent civil rights leaders, including leaders of HURIWA, adding that the fundamentals of the practice of constitutional democracy are animated by the protection and promotion of the basic constitutional freedoms of speech.
Former Presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN),
Fela Durotoye, called on Nigerians to stand together in demanding the immediate release of the pro-democracy activist.
Durotoye said Sowore only lent his voice to “our collective frustration as a people,” noting that every Nigerian has a constitutional right to Freedom of Speech and peaceful protest.
