A stalwart of African Action Congress (AAC) Mr Elias Ozikpu says the recent #RevolutionNow march organised by the movement and some groups was not to force a takeover of government. Tope Musowo writes.
Our constitutional right- Group
The member of Take it Back Movement, whose group participated in the protest, made the clarification in Lagos while recalling that the mass protest organised by AAC presidential candidate and leader of the Take it Back Movement, Mr Omoyele Sowore, along with some groups was brutally disrupted nationwide by law enforcement agents on August 5.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had on August 4 arrested Sowore, who through the court order is being detained by the DSS for 45. The DSS had approach the court alleging that the planned nationwide march had threatened public safety and thus constituted act of treason.
No, it’s treason-FG
But the federal government through key security agencies outlawed the march insisting that it meant to disrupt public peace and create room for miscreant to cause violence and thus embarrass the government.
Accordingly, the Nigeria Police warned citizens to stay clear of the protest in their own interest.
In fact, the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu accused the organisers of the protest of plotting to force a regime change in the country.
Adamu declared that anyone participating in the protest will be treated as terrorists and enemies of the country.
Apparently, this sentiment was shared by the Presidency, which in a statement said the action was aimed at inciting a revolution against the government. The statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mallam Garba Shehu said though citizens have constitutional right of freedom of association and speech restraint was needed to ensure public safety and peace.
He stated that the government respects and uphold the right of every Nigerian to peaceful protest and civil campaign to raise awareness on issues and even oppose the government.
“There is, however, a difference between peaceful call to protest and incitement for a revolution.
“The ballot box is the only constitutional means of changing government and a president in Nigeria. The days of coups and revolutions are over,” Shehu said.
‘Protest planned to destabilize Buhari’s government’
The leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has said the #RevolutionNow protest was a deliberate attempt by enemies of the country and unpatriotic individuals to destabilize the country and government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
NYCN president, Almustapha Abdullahi, described the protest as “ill-time and uncalled for,” adding that the organization “will not be part of any unlawful gathering in the name of revolution.”
In a statement signed by tge party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu in Abuja, Thursday, said some desperate individuals, sore losers, and their sympathisers were acting in vain trying to pull wool over the eyes of Nigerians.
While acknowledging that the right to a civil protest is a given, he said such should not be construed to mean the same thing as a revolution to forcibly take over government.
APC kicks
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) said the protest represented toxic messages championed by some individuals and partisans who have embarked on a campaign of calumny against the government and are calling for a forceful takeover of government, saying they are cowards and enemies of Nigeria.
“The desperate attempt to politicise a legitimate action by the security agencies and futile effort to spread falsehood to create chaos in the country are 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.
“Sowore arrived 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 takes issues like this with levity.
“From elections to governance and general conduct, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has demonstrated its adherence and defence of the rule of law over politics and sundry interests.
No, it wasn’t a revolution
Ozikpu, and eight others who were arrested and detained by security agencies for participating in the protest, which held in spite of Sowore’s detention,
Said the objective of the march was misinterpreted by some Nigerians, describing the arrest and detention of protesters as unfortunate.
Some Nigerians have condemned security agencies for stopping the protest and detaining some participants, saying the action violated freedom of expression of the protesters.
But Ozikpu, who only regained freedom last Thursday, explained that the #RevolutionNow march was organised to put pressure on government to give governance and not to topple the government as believed in some quarters.
Ozikpu, also the Lagos Publicity Secretary of AAC, said protesters could not have planned to take over government by just calling for good governance in some locations across the country.
“Our #RevolutionNow march was misinterpreted; we were not planning to take over government but only calling for a change in governance.
“How can we take over government from the National Stadium in Surulere where the protest was most pronounced? If we really wanted to take over government, will it be at the stadium?
“I think people misunderstood us and our objective, which is a call for change in the way we do things, a call for a change in governance for the benefit of the common man.
“The stoppage of the protests midway by security agencies shows that the present government does not want people to complain or protest, and that is not right.
“Revolution in the way we have used it in the protest is a call for a better country; unfortunately, people are giving the march all sorts of meanings,” he said.
Ozikpu said the country was currently faced with many problems, including insecurity and poverty, noting it was the right of Nigerians to call on government for change in a democracy.
Giving details of his arrest and detention, the Take it Back Movement member said he and eight others were arrested at the protest ground at National Stadium, Surulere on Aug. 5.
He said three of them were identified as journalists by security agencies and were released, adding that he and five others were subsequently arraigned in court for involvement in the protest.
“The six of us were arraigned the second day at Yaba Magistrate court and after the whole thing, only one of us was able to get bail based on self recognition as he is a lawyer.
“The rest of us were sent to prison because we could not perfect our bail condition of N100,000 with two sureties.
“We were only able to do that on Thursday, and that was when we were released,” he said.
On the counter claims by Nzenwa and Sowore over the AAC’s National Chairmanship seat, Ozikpu described Nzenwa as an impostor, noting members recognised Sowore and not him.
He added that Nzenwa only wanted to capitalise the Sowore’s travail with the DSS to hijack the party.
Ozikpu said no genuine member would recognise him as he (Nzenwa) had been expelled from the party at a convention in Abuja recently.
Lawyer sues FG
Barrister Olukoya Ogungbeje, a human rights activist and lawyer, has dragged the federal government to court over a clampdown on protesters demanding better governance in Nigeria.
Ogungbeje is praying the court to order the police to release everyone in its detention stating that protest is a guaranteed right of every Nigeria according to the constitution of the country.
The lawyer joined the Department of State Services (DSS), Inspector-General of Police, and Attorney-General of the Federation in the ex parte suit on the violation of fundamental human rights.
“The right to peaceful protest is a constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“By engaging in peaceful protest, the applicant and other persons have not committed any offence known to law to warrant the treatment meted out to them by the respondents and their agents.
“The acts and actions of the respondents have infringed on the provisions of the Constitution and the rights of the protesters.”
The case will come up before Justice Chuka Obiozor on August 14.
