‘Winner is democracy,’ Presidency declares as state agents clamp down on protesters

Presidency on Monday stated that democracy is the winner in Nigeria.

The declaration came on Monday evening as security agents crippled the #RevolutionNow protests spearheaded by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 General Election, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore, who also publishes the online Sahara Reporters, had called for nationwide protests tagged #RevolutionNow and scheduled for Monday (today) to protest bad governance.

Sowore was picked up in the early hours of Saturday by operatives of the Department of State Services and is being held incommunicado.

Security agents comprising variously of soldiers, Police and Operatives of the OP MESA, a joint Internal Security Operational platform made up of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, also took to the flash points in various states of the federation and prevented the #RevolutionNow protest from holding.

In states such as Lagos, Osun and Cross River, protesters were tear-gassed and journalists arrested and taken to unknown places.

Again, security agents in Lagos State not only doused protesters in tear gas, they also shot into air to scare people off.

In reaction, the Presidency gave “democracy” thumbs up, saying, “The winner is democracy in Nigeria!”

Taking to his Facebook wall on Monday evening, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, had posted a Press release signed by his counterpart, Shehu Garba, titled “The Winner Is Democracy In Nigeria!”

The social media release states, “Today, millions of Nigerians went about their businesses: work, seeking employment, attending schools/colleges and caring for their families. By doing so, the millions defended our country’s hard-won democratic rights – by ignoring calls on social media to join a phantom ‘revolution’.

“There were a few hundred persons today who, for their own reasons, decided to act upon the demands of a group calling itself Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, which went on social media to ask everyday Nigerians to overthrow the government they only elected some six months ago.

“The President is humbled by the support – not for himself, or the governing party – but for the democratic values of modern-day Nigeria through the wisdom of those millions of citizens who preferred democracy and decided not to undermine an elected government.

“Today, joining those millions of Nigerians was not only the President and governing party at Federal level, but many state governments from the opposition, trade unions, civil society organisations, media and NGOs with focus on freedom of speech. All have, rightly, united in protecting Nigeria’s young democracy and the rights of all to elect leaders and lawmakers.

“The Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’s attempt to incite citizens into a revolution against their own democratic rights and interests has failed – as will all attempts to take away from the people their hard-won rights and freedom to choose who leads their country.’’