The Coalition of former 2019 Nigerian Presidential aspirants and candidates have written President Muhammadu Buhari over the arrest and detention of Omoyele Sowore.
A copy of the letter entitled, ‘The illegal arrest of Sowore’ was also sent to the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan. Ireportnews had earlier reported that Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC in the February 2019 election, had called for a nationwide staging of protests against what he described as a bad governance.
The protest he tagged #RevolutionNow was planned to take place on Monday, August 5.
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However his arrest by personnel of Department of State Services, DSS, was announced in the early hours of Saturday.
The Coalition, in a statement signed by Dr. SKC Ogbonnia, 2019 Presidential aspirant, All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Tope Fasua, 2019 Presidential Candidate, Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP); Hon. Okey Samuel Mbonu, 2019 Presidential Aspirant, Labour Party (LP); Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikhubese, 2019 Presidential Aspirant, Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN); Dr. Emmanuel Etim, 2019 Presidential Candidate, Change Nigeria Party (CNP); Dr. Ayodele O. Favour, 2019 Presidential Aspirant, Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Hon. Clement Jimbo, 2019 Presidential Aspirant, Social Democratic Party (SDP) on behalf of other aspirants and Candidates, demanded the immediate release of Sowore.
The letter which was made available to Ireportnews on Monday, said “We, the Coalition of former 2019 Presidential Aspirants and Candidates, under the aegis of Third Force Forum, hereby demand the unconditional release of one of our compatriots, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, who was arrested by an agency of the government on August 2, 2019, pursuant to plans for a protest march across Nigeria; which is within his full constitutional rights toward “Freedom of Expression”, pursuant to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We must also remind you Mr. President, that in addition to the Nigerian Constitution, Nigeria also subscribes to other International Treaties, which prohibit violation of human rights of her citizens. To refrain from adhering to these national and international rights, is to invite anarchy onto the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“As you are fully aware Mr. President, every democratic government that subscribes to the Rule of Law, has time-tested methods of containing any breach of the peace during peaceful protests; without clamping down on our fundamental rights of ‘Freedom of Expression’ and to peaceably assemble, in-order to address grievances by the government; even when those views expressed are contrary to the views of the current government.
“Therefore, we implore you to immediately order the applicable agencies of the State to immediately release Mr. Omoyele Sowore unconditionally, in-order to maintain peace in our country, and to deter further national and international repercussions on this matter.
“Thank you for your cooperation in this matter Mr. President, we look forward to a mutually respectful Nigeria for all Nigerians.”
