RevolutionNow: Nigerians Would’ve Used Sowore’s Planned Protest To Express Their Feelings To Buhari – Gani Adams

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams has said the planned RevolutionNow protest by the now detained former Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore would have presented to Nigerians the needed opportunity to express their feelings to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting in a statement, Adams said that Nigerians were entitled to express their feelings, provided the protest was peaceful and violent-free and it also represented the feelings of Nigerians.

Recall that the Department of State Services had on August 3, 2019 arrested Sowore over a planned revolutionary protest scheduled for Monday, August 5.

The Police had accused the activist of a plot to force a regime change in the country.

Sowore is the publisher of online newspaper, SaharaReporters and Convener, Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria.

“Not everybody can have access to the presidency in Abuja. This is democracy, not militarism, where people are cowed and jailed over issues relating to their welfare.

“Sowore is an activist, and he was part of the struggle for this democracy. Therefore, he is entitled to express his feelings and that of Nigerians in a democratic setting.

“I think the Federal Government should consider his freedom as a panacea for peace. For instance, I wonder how a peaceful protest by harmless citizens will now turn to a treasonable felony.

“It is unfortunate that many of the people in the corridors of power today were part of the protests against former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, but today the situation has changed,” he added.

While appealing to the Federal Government to release Sowore, Adams noted that such arrest portends grave danger for Nigeria’s democracy.

He said the arrest was an abuse of human right to freedom, stating that the planned revolutionary protest could not be said to be treasonable since it was yet to be implemented before he was arrested by the DSS.

Adams, who faulted the rationale behind the arrest, said it was unfortunate that Nigerians usually forgot events and memories of the past.

He said that Nigeria’s problems emanated from the military’s dictatorship and tendency to gag the press and prevent freedom of speech and expression.

Aare Onakakanfo however, said with the information at his disposal, the convener did not consult many of the civil society groups.