Yusuf Bello|
The Nigeria police force on Saturday said the ‘Revolution Now’ movement is an act of treason and terrorism.
Omoyele Sowore, one of the leaders of the movement and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the February 23, presidential election, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday by DSS operatives in Lagos.
In a statement following Sowore’s arrest, police spokesman, Frank Mba, said the movement is a “revolution march against the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” and warned citizens to desist from joining the planned protest.
The statement read, “The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the call amounts to treasonable felony and acts of terrorism and will therefore not stand idly by and watch any individual or group in the society cause anarchy in the land.”
“While acknowledging the rights of Nigerians to embark on protest, the Force wishes to note that such rights should not translate to a violent and forceful change of government which clearly is the meaning of ‘revolution’.
“Needless to state that Nigeria is a democratic republic and has well-defined processes for change of government, exercised periodically during various cycle of elections.
“The Force therefore warns the organizers, sponsors, allies, supporters, associates and sympathizers of the group ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’ to, in their own interest, steer clear of any such planned protest, demonstration, acts of incitement and proposed ‘revolution’, as the full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any individual or group engaged or found participating in the above planned criminal act.”
The #revolutionNow movement is spearheaded by a number of activists in the country who claim the movement aims to protest “bad governance” in Nigeria.
The nationwide protest is scheduled to commence from Monday.
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