Yusuf Bello|
The presidency on Sunday accused Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and others that have condemned the arrest Omoloye Sowore, a former presidential candidate and one of the leaders of #RevolutionNow movement of blackmail.
Soyinka on Sunday joined the growing number of Nigerians condemning the arrest of Sowore, comparing the action of the Buhari regime to that of the late maximum dictator, Sani Abacha who ruled the country with an iron fist in the late 1990’s.
But reacting to Soyinka’s condemnation on Sunday, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said the Nobel laureate and others who have condemned Sowore’s arrest are blackmailers.
Shehu said, “You mentioned the name of Professor Wole Soyinka. Some of these critics of government are people whom we have great respect and admiration for. When things are going wrongly with law and order in the country, they say the Police are not doing their work. They raise their voices, asking that “the culprits to be booked and expeditiously punished in the most severe manner.”
“The police under a new leadership is now rising to the occasion, saying “we cannot take any more atrocities against the law in our country and they are saying don’t do anything. They are calling out President Buhari and comparing him to autocratic leaders.” This is an unpardonable blackmail that cannot stop Police and other law enforcement agencies from doing their work.”
“A Nigerian is by right empowered to call for a change of government using constitutional means; to protest peacefully against government policies and decisions. But to call for the violent overthrow of a democratically elected government and president and worse – were those calling for it to attempt to do so – is not acceptable under any law in Nigeria. Violence will ever be accepted again as a way to change governments in this country. Those days are gone.
“Nigeria has a well-crafted Constitution and elaborate laws governing elections that guide an orderly succession in government. We have a judicial system that actively serves as a watchdog of the people’s rights.
“Yet, we are daily witnesses to obscene display of delight in the killing of our soldiers and policemen, an open contempt for the country’s laws and its people, accompanied by loud cheers from the so-called New Media. Is this the way to grow a country?” Shehu asked?.
Earlier on Sunday, the presidency while responding to calls on social and digital media by the group, “Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria” which called for a revolution march on Monday, 5th August, said that elections are won with results and not by protests.
In a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, President Buhari reiterated that his administration respects and upholds the right of every Nigerian to peaceful protest and civil campaign– whether to raise awareness on issues and even oppose the government.
The statement read in part, “There is, however, a difference between a peaceful call to protest and incitement for a revolution.
“The organisation championing this planned action is not fronted by any serious public faces. We call on the sponsors and organisers to have the decency to come forward and make their identity known – out of respect to all Nigerians – so that Nigerians can be fully aware in whose name this “revolution” is being proposed and who the beneficiaries may be.
“Less than six months ago, Nigeria held simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections. Both contests were won resoundingly by President Muhammadu Buhari and his All-Progressives Congress party.
“The campaign was observed, and results were confirmed by international election monitoring groups and observers. The result was even contested by the losing presidential candidate and his party in Court”.
According to the President, the ballot box is the only constitutional means of changing government and a president in Nigeria. The days of coups and revolutions are over.
He, therefore, called on all those who seek to use and hide behind everyday citizens to attain power through undemocratic and violent means, which has been alluded, to come out clearly and be identified. They should lead their march in person. Only then will they begin to have the right to call themselves leaders before the people of Nigeria.
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