The Action Democratic Party has called on the Federal government to
release the publisher of the Sahara Reporters, who was also the
Presidential candidate of the AAC in the last 2019 general elections, Mr
Omoyele Sowore.
The call was made in Lagos, South West by the Lagos State Publicity
Secretary of the party, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, he said it is the
fundamental rights of all citizens to show their concern or agitation
where necessary, that’s organizing a revolution protest does not amount
to a plot to topple the government, he stated further that when Jonathan
government planned to remove fuel subsidy in 2012, majority of the
people in government today took to the street in protest, a protest that
grounded the economy until the government rescind their decision to
remove fuel subsidy.
Adelaja lamented the spade at which citizens are being arrested by
government, that it is at an alarming rate, citing how Steven Kefas was
whisked to Kaduna from Port Harcourt by operatives over his facebook
post, a prominent youth who is a member of the opposition Dadiyata is
still missing till date, his last place before he was abducted was in
Kaduna State, ADP prevails on the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam
Nasiru Elrufai to set Kefas free and also help in the search for
Dadiyata whose family members are in the hard time due to the abduction
of their child.
In the same vein, a journalist Agba Jalingo was arrested in Cross Rivers
State, urged those who sent him to the prison for doing his job to show
humanity, and not allow him to die in detention as he was rushed to the
hospital over his illness few days ago. Another journalist John Abiri
was also arrested and detained for doing his job.
Speaking on Sowore, Adelaja said that the government should not be
afraid of critics, because most of the citizens wants good governance,
in the absence of that, they will continue to agitate and demand for
impoved economy, welfare and things that will better their lives.
Government must be able to take feedback from the people they are
governing, they must not see their wailing as plot to sabotage or
destroy their government, they should be in harmony with every citizen.
Report also shows that Sowore has not been feeling fine health wise, on
a compassionate ground, President Buhari should allow Sowore to go back
to his wife Dolapo Sowore and children. It will not be too good that
Sowore who was a Presidential candidate is detained for mobilizing a
mass action to demand for good governance. Nigerians, civil society
organizations both locally and internationally should continue to
prevail on the government, those detained must not be forgotten in
prison, irrespective of what they have done in the past.
It is our believe that if the government is working for the citizens and
making the economy to improve, there won’t be any need to clamp down on
the citizens, a working govement will be too busy to be clamping down or
arresting critics.
Adelaja called on both the State and Federal government who has one
activist, journalist or critic under their custody to be set free.