#RevolutionNow: Arrests, Reactions, Video

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Saturday, arrested presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 elections, Omoyele Sowore following his call for a nationwide protest tagged “RevolutionNow” against what he described as  bad governance.

The Nigeria Police Force, in reaction to the arrest had described the planned protests by Sowore, who is founder of online news agency Sahara Reporters, as “treasonable felony and acts of terrorism”.

In a CCTV footage released by Sahara Reporters, the Operatives were seen entering the hotel where Sowere lodged, picking him up, and exiting the building.

Watch the 18 minutes video below:

Protest In Lagos, Abuja

Meanwhile, scores of protesters gathered in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja and Lagos State to kick off the protest.

As at 8 a.m., the protesters assembled at the National stadium in Surulere.

They were dispersed by armed police officers who fired tear gas at them.

In Abuja, despite the rain, protesters gathered in front of the National Human Rights Commission’s office. They demanded the DSS release Sowore and chanted “Freedom comes by struggle by struggle”.

Reactions Trail Sowore’s Arrest

Sowore’s arrest has been greeted by diverse reaction from Nigerians at home and abroad.

Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome SAN, said the arrest of the presidential candidate did not amount to a treasonable felony.

Ozekhome said, “Dancing on the street saying we don’t want bad governance how does that amount to a treasonable felony?

“This government is allergic to plurality of voices, this government is allergic to criticism, this government is allergic to opinions. This government should know that Nigeria is a country with many colours.

“What is treason? For the definition of treason, you have to look at Sections 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 of the Criminal Code which applies in the Southern part of Nigeria.

“Then you must look at Section 410 of the Penal Code that applies in the Northern part of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Treason is the act of overthrowing the sovereign government of a state.”

Similarly, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana called for the release of Sowore.

He said, “The State Security Service should release Mr. Omoyele Sowore, one of the conveners of the protests. In the alternative, he should be arraigned in court if there is reasonable suspicion that he has contravened any penal statute.

“However, the nation’s security agencies should stop embarrassing President Buhari who had cause, from 2003-2014, to lead peaceful rallies to protest election malpractice and insecurity in the country.”

In the same vein, Noble laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka in his reaction said: “Beyond the word ‘revolution’, another much misused and misunderstood word, nothing that Sowore has uttered, written, or advocated suggests that he is embarking on, or urging the public to engage in a forceful overthrow of government. Nothing that he said, to me, in private engagement ever remotely approached an intent to destabilise governance or bypass the normal democratic means of changing a government.

“I, therefore, find the reasons given by the Inspector-General of Police, for the arrest and detention of this young ex-presidential candidate totally contrived and untenable, unsupported by any shred of evidence. His arrest is a travesty and violation of the fundamental rights of citizens to congregate and make public their concerns.”