Omoyele Sowore and Ex- President Goodluck Jonathan
By Victory Oghene
The Presidency on Thursday took a swipe at renowned politician and Rights Activist, Omoyele Sowore, for planning to stage a protest march to the State House, Abuja to demand the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore had announced that the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration would hold on October 20 at 7 a.m., calling it a “historic” protest to press for Kanu’s release.
Commenting on the issue in his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, described Sowore as “an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist,” accusing him of attempting to incite disorder under the guise of a protest.
Onanuga said the move was a deliberate attempt to undermine the rule of law, warning that the IPOB leader’s ongoing trial on charges of treason must be allowed to run its lawful course.
According to him: “You are nothing more than an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist. You very well know that Nnamdi Kanu is facing trial for treason, and yet you want to cause a breakdown of law and order by mobilising for a protest. Is this the kind of revolution you envisage for Nigeria, where the rule of law will be violated and your idea of justice would be the law of the jungle?”.
Onanuga also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for expressing support for the planned protest, describing his stance as opportunistic and irresponsible for a for a statesman of his standing.
His words: “I am surprised that ex-VP Atiku Abubakar, who is always opportunistic, has supported the planned mob action. As a statesman, he should know better that matters of justice are not resolved on the streets but in the law court”.
He stressed that while the judicial process in Kanu’s case may appear slow, the administration remains committed to due process and the rule of law.
“While the wheel of justice can sometimes be grindingly slow, partly caused by Kanu’s lawyers, Nnamdi Kanu will eventually get the justice he deserves for his alleged transgressions,” Onanuga further stated.
In a related development, former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday promised to meet with President Bola Tinubu over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.
Jonathan stated this when Sowore met with him over his planned 20th October protest for release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Sowore revealed his meeting with Jonathan in a statement he posted on his social media platforms.
However, he did not indicate that the former President gave his word on joining the protest for the release of Kanu.
Rather, Sowore said Jonathan agreed that he will discuss the issue of detention of the IPOB leader with President Bola Tinubu.
Writing on his social media platforms, the activist said, “Earlier today in Abuja, I met with former President @GEJonathan to discuss the continued incarceration of Mazi @NnamdiKanu.
“President Jonathan agreed that there is an urgent and compelling need to address this matter decisively and justly. I thank him sincerely for recognizing the importance of resolving Kanu’s case in the interest of peace, fairness, and national healing.
“Particularly assuring was that he promised to meet @officialabat to discuss this issue as soon as possible.”
He added that with his meeting with him, former President Jonathan has joined others Nigerians who have “called for justice in Nnamdi Kanu’s case.”
He listed other prominent Nigerians who have agreed on the need to secure freedom for Kanu to include for Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Lagos lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana SAN and activities and former senator, Shehu Sani.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains in detention today because he took up the just cause of confronting the long-standing issue of marginalization in Nigeria.
“Like other ethnic and regional activists whose politically motivated cases have been withdrawn or dismissed, Nnamdi Kanu should also be released without further delay.
Sowere also appelaed to other political, cultural, ethnic, and religious leaders across Nigeria to join his campaign for release of Kanu.
