Detained convener of #RevolutionNow Days of Rage movement, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, has expressed sadness about the arrest of persons who took part in peaceful protests in some parts of the country yesterday.

Sowore and his co-conveners had planned to start a nationwide revolutionary protest tagged, ‘Days of Rage’ on Monday (yesterday)

However, he was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in his Lagos residence on Saturday, August 3, and taken to Abuja.

The inspector general of police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu later explained that Sowore, candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the February 23, 2019 presidential election, was planning a revolution to destabilise the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and was liable to be charged with treasonable felony.

Speaking from where he has been detained by the DSS since Saturday, Sowore said he was in good health and thanked Nigerians and the international community for their support.

The director of media and communications of #RevolutionNow project, Rachel Onamusi-Kpiasi, who visited Sowore yesterday, quoted him as saying: “I would like to assure everyone that I am being treated well and in very good health.

“I am pleased that the peaceful #RevolutionNow protests went ahead.

“However, knowledge of the sheer number of innocent Nigerians being arrested for exercising their civil rights bothers me.

“I join others in demanding for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested by the police on Monday.”

Meanwhile, no fewer than nine persons were arrested at the National Stadium in Lagos yesterday after a crowd gathered for the protest against bad governance in the country.

Addressing journalists afterwards, the national secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Mr. Olayinka Folarin, said the group was not interested in a regime change or removal of the president, but changes that would end insecurity, youth unemployment, among other ills.

“We assembled in a lawful manner at the front of the stadium. But the military and the police dispersed us; they shot tear gas at us. They arrested some of our people, including journalists. They whisked them away to an unknown location. Some of our people sustained injuries.

“Nigerians want the government to fulfill all its promises during the electioneering. We are also asking for the immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore, who is just a messenger in this struggle.

“The word revolution is a predated statement that was even used by the people in government today, including President Muhammadu Buhari. In 2012, Goodluck Jonathan did not stop our nationwide protest at Ojota, and the people in the present government participated. They have become tyrannical and have started unleashing mayhem and terror on the good people of Nigeria after they took office,” he said.

In Abuja, #RevolutionNow activists defied the downpour and matched to the office of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to protest against the poor security situation and other social issues in the country.

The protesters also accused the commission of maintaining silence in the face of undemocratic practices in the country.

“The ever growing proclivity of the President Buhari-led regime for human rights abuses is indicative of a complete departure from all democratic tenets, norms and practices.”

“We are completely dissatisfied by the eerie silence of the National Human Rights Commission in the face of these undemocratic developments.

“Our dissatisfaction is further aggravated by the fact that the role of the NHRC in defending the constitutionally guaranteed rights of Nigerians is well-revered and dearly treasured by Nigerians,” said the coordinator of the protest, Mr. Dare-Atoye Ariyo.

In Osun State, the protesters asked for an economy that works for all and an end to insecurity and insurgency.

The leader of the protest, Mr. Olawale Adebayo, who addressed the media demanded for Sowore’s unconditional and increase in education budget.

“We want an end to systemic corruption and total system change in the interest of all and the immediate implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage. We also demand immediate stop to the illegal and fraudulent implementation of Contributory Pension Scheme.

“Government must also end police brutality, harassment and intimidation, especially in the student populated areas in Osun State and the country at large.

“We are asking for immediate increase of funding of the education sector by up to 26 per cent of the national budget as recommended by UNESCO,” said Adebayo.

There was also a counter protest by supporters of the federal government.

A group operating under Coalition for Good Governance was allowed into the Unity Fountain Park after #RevolutionNow protesters were prevented from using it.

The group wielded banners and placards with messages of support for the administration of President Buhari.

Addressing the group, its convener, Mr. Sunday Attah, said those calling for a revolution were being sponsored by enemies of Nigeria.

“We are over 12 civil society organisations and we just want to express our support for this government and President Muhammadu Buhari. See Also

“We are here to tell Nigerians that this government is doing well, this government has set a strong foundation for us to build on.

“Therefore, we do not need any person to disrupt what the President is doing.”

Reviewing the effect of the protest, the presidency said it was a failure.

A statement by the senior special assistant on media and publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said the mere fact that many Nigerians ignored the call for revolution protest was an indication that that they were in support of democracy and the federal government.

He said Buhari was humbled by the support for the democratic values of modern-day Nigeria through the wisdom of those millions of citizens who have shown their preference for democracy.

“Today, millions of Nigerians went about their businesses: work, seeking employment, attending school/college and caring for their families. By doing so, the millions defended our country’s hard-won democratic rights – by ignoring calls on social media to join a phantom ‘revolution’.”

“There were a few hundred persons today who, for their own reasons, decided to act upon the demands of a group calling itself Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, which went on social media to ask everyday Nigerians to overthrow the government they only elected some six months ago.

“The President is humbled by the support – not for himself, or the governing party – but for the democratic values of modern-day Nigeria through the wisdom of those millions of citizens who preferred democracy and decided not to undermine an elected government.

“Today, joining those millions of Nigerians was not only the President and governing party at Federal level, but many state governments from the opposition, trade unions, civil society organisations, media and NGOs with focus on freedom of speech. All have, rightly, united in protecting Nigeria’s young democracy and the rights of all to elect leaders and lawmakers.

“The Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’s attempt to incite citizens into a revolution against their own democratic rights and interests has failed – as will all attempts to take away from the people their hard-won rights and freedom to choose who leads their country,” said Shehu.

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