Gani Adams, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, has joined other eminent Nigerians to call for the release of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (ACC), Omoyele Sowore, saying the arrest portends grave danger for Nigeria’s democracy.
The publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria was arrested by the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) over a planned revolutionary protest which was scheduled to begin Monday, August 5.
The Police had accused the activist of a plot to force a regime change in the country.
Reacting in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi on Monday, Adams said the arrest was a huge 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 faulted the rationale behind the arrest, saying it is unfortunate that Nigerians usually forget events and memories of the past.
He noted further that Nigeria’s problems emanate from the military’s dictatorship and tendency to gag the press and prevent freedom of speech and expression.
The Aare Onakakanfo, however, said with the information at his disposal, the convener did not consult many of the civic society groups.
The planned protest, he admitted, would have presented to Nigerians, the needed opportunity to express their feelings to president Muhammadu Buhari.
Frowning at the arrest, Adams noted that Nigerians are entitled to express their feelings, in as much as the protest is peaceful, and violence- free and also represents the feelings of Nigerians.
Adams urged the federal government to urgently free Sowore and formulate policies that will have direct impact on the lives of Nigerians.
According to the statement, “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 FG must consider his freedom as a panacea for peace. For instance, I wonder how a peaceful protest by armless citizens will now turn to a treasonable felony.
“It is unfortunate that many of the people at the corridors of power today were part of the protests against former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, but today the situation has changed.
“I am afraid they wanted to draw the nation backward to those years of the military, where people’s rights to freedom and other fundamental human rights were alien to the military.”
