#RevolutionNow: Atiku instigated Sowore, others APC alleges

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that former Vice-President and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar, was behind the recent #RevolutionNow protest to express discontent against the policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of an online medium, Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), in the last general elections, was picked up last weekend by the Department of State Services (DSS) last week, having been fingered as the mastermind of the planned protest.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted permission to detain Sowore for 45 days.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ruling on an ex parte application by the State Security Service, whose operatives arrested Sowore last Saturday, held that the detention order would be renewable after the expiration of first 45 days on September 21.

The APC in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, described Atiku Abubakar as a sore leader and “the patron and cheerleader of the unpatriotic elements who would rather bring our country down for being rejected at the polls.”

The APC said the detention of Sowore was legitimate since it was procured through a court process and urged Nigerians to disregard what it called the skewed narratives and sentiments being propagated by certain individuals.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) calls on Nigerians to reject the toxic messages and criminal antics of some individuals and partisans who have embarked on a campaign of calumny against the government and are calling for a forceful takeover of government. They are cowards and enemies of Nigeria.

“The recent arrest of Mr Omoyele Sowore by the Department of State Services (DSS) must be seen for what it is – a legal and timely action by our security services to protect our democracy and protect the country and its citizens against any action that threatens our collective peace and safety.

“Predictably, some desperate individuals, sore losers, and their sympathisers are acting in vain trying to pull a wool over the eyes of Nigerians. Of course, the disgruntled presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alh. Atiku Abubakar is expectedly the patron and cheerleader of the unpatriotic elements who would rather bring our country down for being rejected at the polls.

“The desperate attempt to politicise a legitimate action by the security agencies and futile effort to spread falsehood to create chaos in the country is clearly irresponsible actions. We call on Nigerians to look at the issue of Sowore’s arrest dispassionately devoid of the skewed narratives and sentiments being propagated by these individuals.”

The statement further argued that Sowore and those who emboldened him to call for a revolution have lost in a legitimate process to unseat a sitting government and were bent on destabilising the country.

“Sowore arrived in the country recently and openly threatened a revolution against a constitutionally recognised and legitimate government. Should the DSS and other security services have dismissed the declaration and the underlying implications as a non-issue? No intelligence/security agency worth its calling take issues like this with levity.

“From elections to governance and general conduct, President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has demonstrated its adherence and defence of the rule of law over politics and sundry interests.

“Again, on the safety of Nigerians, the current government has been decisive in addressing any action that threatens the country’s unity, peace and our democracy. Sowore’s arrest is another testament to our unshaken resolve in this regard.

“The right to a civil protest is a given, however, it should not be construed to mean the same thing as a revolution to forcibly take over the government. This makes it necessary to put the act of a revolution in context, at least by the proclamation made by Sowore and his co-travellers. Revolution means to forcibly overthrow a government through rebellion, revolt, insurrection, mutiny, uprising, insurgency, coup.

“Nigeria is not a banana republic, we are a country with a democratically-elected government, governed by laws. Our laws are clear on Sowore’s actions. It is treason. No one should be allowed to get away with any attempt to destabilize this country.

“We must remind ourselves that the same Sowore who attempts to lead a revolution had a legal opportunity during the 2019 Presidential election as a candidate to sell his governance ideas, if any, to the electorate. He failed woefully in that attempt, coming a distant sixth with 33,953 votes compared to the winner, President Muhammadu Buhari, who polled over 15 million votes.

“Sowore and some of his co-losers have now resorted to an illegal and misguided plot to destabilise the country. Their plan is dead on arrival.

“We reiterate that our laws are clear on all criminalities and Nigerians expect that the enforcement of relevant laws should apply to every Nigerian, irrespective of class and status. This government would not be found wanting where it is required to take decisive actions.

“Finally, the effects of instability being championed by these cowards and enemies of Nigeria is disastrous. The same proponents of a forceful takeover will be the first to flee the country with their loved ones while the ordinary Nigerian suffers the disastrous consequences. Nigerians beware.”