Atiku Is The Patron And Cheerleader of #RevolutionNow Protest, APC Alleges
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday alleged that former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, was behind the recent #RevolutionNow protest to express discontent against the policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
iDONSABI reports that Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, of an online medium was picked up last weekend by the Department of State Services (DSS) last week, having been fingered as the mastermind of the planned protest which took place on Monday despite warnings from the government.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday granted permission to detain Sowore who was the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), in the last general elections for 45 days.
In his ruling on an ex parte application by the State Security Service (SSS), whose operatives arrested Sowore last Saturday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that the detention order would be renewable after the expiration of first 45 days on September 21.
The ruling party in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Lanre Isa-Onilu, described Atiku Abubakar as a sore leader and “the patron and cheerleader of the unpatriotic elements who would rather bring our country down for being rejected at the polls.”
On the detention of Sowore, the party said it was legitimate since it was procured through a court process.
The APC, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard what it called the skewed narratives and sentiments being propagated by certain individuals.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) calls on Nigerians to reject the toxic messages and criminal antics of some individuals and partisans who have embarked on a campaign of calumny against the government and are calling for a forceful takeover of government. They are cowards and enemies of Nigeria.
“The recent arrest of Mr Omoyele Sowore by the Department of State Services (DSS) must be seen for what it is – a legal and timely action by our security services to protect our democracy and protect the country and its citizens against any action that threatens our collective peace and safety.
“Predictably, some desperate individuals, sore losers, and their sympathisers are acting in vain trying to pull a wool over the eyes of Nigerians. Of course, the disgruntled presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alh. Atiku Abubakar is expectedly the patron and cheerleader of the unpatriotic elements who would rather bring our country down for being rejected at the polls.
“The desperate attempt to politicise a legitimate action by the security agencies and futile effort to spread falsehood to create chaos in the country is clearly irresponsible actions. “\
READ: #RevolutionNow Organisers Dare FG, Plan to Go Ahead With Protest
The ruling party, therefore, urged Nigerians to look at the issue of Sowore’s arrest dispassionately devoid of the skewed narratives and sentiments being propagated by these individuals.”
The further stated that Sowore who emboldened who called for a revolution lost in a legitimate process to unseat a sitting government and were bent on destabilising the country.
“Sowore arrived in the country recently and openly threatened a revolution against a constitutionally recognised and legitimate government. Should the DSS and other security services have dismissed the declaration and the underlying implications as a non-issue? No intelligence/security agency worth its calling take issues like this with levity.
“From elections to governance and general conduct, President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has demonstrated its adherence and defence of the rule of law over politics and sundry interests.
“Again, on the safety of Nigerians, the current government has been decisive in addressing any action that threatens the country’s unity, peace and our democracy. Sowore’s arrest is another testament to our unshaken resolve in this regard.
“The right to a civil protest is a given, however, it should not be construed to mean the same thing as a revolution to forcibly take over the government. This makes it necessary to put the act of a revolution in context, at least by the proclamation made by Sowore and his co-travellers. Revolution means to forcibly overthrow a government through rebellion, revolt, insurrection, mutiny, uprising, insurgency, coup,” the party stated.
