A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Olufemi Ajadi, has called on the Federal Government not to arrest one of the leaders of the recent #endbadgovernance protest, Mr Omoyele Sowore, whenever he arrived in the country....READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
Ajadi’s reaction was sequel to the reports in different online media platforms that the new Director General of DSS, Adeola Ajayi, has instructed the security operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to be on the lookout for Sowore and pick him up anytime he arrives the country.
In a release he signed and made available to the Media on Thursday, Ajadi said such directive is not in consonance with democratic rules that Nigeria is currently operating.
He therefore warned that the presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not drag the country back to the dark days of the military when people were picked up by security agencies at the whims and caprices of the government.
He also advised the DSS to tread with caution in case Sowore’s supporters are at the Airport to welcome him, noting that there might be confrontations while trying to arrest him in the midst of his followers.
“Let me warn that Sowore should not be arrested for being one of the organisers of the recent #endbadgovernance protest that took place across the country. Peaceful protest is a legitimate right of citizens in a democratic government.
“There is the provision for the right or freedom to express opinions in our constitution. Making one’s view known against perceived bad governance is not an offence in democracy.
“I will like to remind our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration that elementary definition of democracy says, ‘it is the government of the people by the people and for the people’. People are at the centre of government in a democracy. Government must be accountable to the people.
“Sowore has not done anything to warrant arrest, more especially that he was not in the country and cannot be linked to any violent act during the protests. President Tinubu should remember that Sowore is also a leader; former presidential candidate of African Action Congress, (AAC) in the last general election and a foremost human rights activist, as well as, an opinion leader. So he should not be molested or arrested at the Airport like a criminal.
“The DSS should also note that we are in a democracy and there are rules of law. Anybody found to have run foul of the law can be charged to court and not to be waylaid at the Airport. We should not turn our country to a laughing stock among the comity of nations.
“The Federal Government should allow people to express their grievances whenever they feel the government is not doing as expected, although peacefully without destruction of public property “, Ajadi advised.
