…Free Sowore Group speaks
CITIZENS COMPASS— The Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG) in solidarity with Free Sowore Group (FSG), on Wednesday, warned the Department of State Services (DSS) to channel its energy towards arresting of bandits rather than humiliating the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) Omoyele Sowore.
The human rights groups sounded the warning following the continued detention of Sowore at Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja.
The groups gave the warning in a statement signed by CACOBAG Chairman, Toyin Raheem and Adeshina Isola, Public Relations Officer, FSG saying:
The Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG) in solidarity with Free Sowore Group (FSG), condemns in the strongest terms the continued harassment, intimidation, and unlawful detention of Comrade Omoyele Sowore by the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security apparatuses in Nigeria.
We declare without fear ; The Government of Nigeria must not truncate democracy. Constructive criticism and advocacy for good governance are not crimes. They are constitutional duties under Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, and Section 14(2)(b), which makes “the security and welfare of the people the primary purpose of government.”
It is a national disgrace that the DSS deploys state resources to persecute Sowore — a journalist, presidential candidate, and voice of the masses — while terrorists like Bello Turji and bandit gangs continue to murder, kidnap, and displace thousands across the Nigeria. DSS should be ashamed of its misplaced priorities. Your duty is to arrest Turji Bello and his gangs, not democracy defenders. Channel your energy to where Nigerians are bleeding daily and free all Nigerians in the dens of bandits.
Sowore is not a criminal. He is a citizen exercising his rights. Keeping him will not save President Bola Tinubu and his party from rejection in 2027. Sowore remains one of the most popular voices among the toiling masses because he speaks their language and shares their pain. Repression cannot win votes. Only good governance can.
It will not surprise Nigerians if other voices of constructive opposition like Prince Adewole Adebayo, who consistently critiques this government with policy alternatives; Mr. Peter Obi, who demands accountability and prudent governance; or Comrade Martin Onovo, a past presidential candidate who constantly calls this government to order, are also targeted for arrest. That is the pattern when a government feels threatened by truth. Propaganda cannot change the reality of Nigerians’ suffering and determination to reclaim the Country from a failed government.
Call to action across all regions
CACOBAG and FSG call on Prince Toyin Raheem, past South West Leader of United Action for Democracy UAD and incumbent Chairman of CACOBAG, to immediately mobilize all pro-democracy campaigners under the Take It Back Movement, South West, and declare a National day of action simultaneously across all regions, with UAD leaders in the South South , South East, North Central, North East, and North West, to occupy streets and public spaces until Sowore is free.
UAD, known as Hadakar Kungiyoyin Kare Dimokuradiyya in Hausa, the United Front for the Defence of Democracy in Nigeria, as the ” Njikọta Ndị Otu Na-echebe Ọchịchị Ndị Mmadụ” in Igbo land and
“Ajosepo fun idagbasoke ijoba awa ara wa”in Yoruba land, must treat the repression of Sowore as repression of democracy itself, aimed at chasing good Nigerians out of politics.Its a national struggle to regain our country.
No matter the intimidation, repression, or threats of arrest, we shall not leave democracy in the hands of those making it dirty. We shall use democracy to take over Nigeria and rescue it from the gulag of retrogressive elements in power.
We also call on the National Leadership of UAD, including all past leaders: Chief Olisa Agbakoba SAN GGDM, , Dr. Ayo Obe, Comrade Larry Kay, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, GDM , Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Jaiye Gaskia, Baba Aye, Dr. Biola Akiode, Nma Odi, Taiwo Otitolaye, Prof. Odion Akhaine, Gabriel Ojumah, Wale Balogun, Comrade Celestine , Comrade Che , Ken Henshaw, Debo Adeniran and all others, to fix a date to OCCUPY ABUJA until Sowore regains his freedom.
The law and world precedents are clear
Section 35(1) guarantees personal liberty. Section 36 guarantees fair hearing. Section 40 guarantees freedom of assembly. DSS actions violate all three.
History can never be rewritten:
•Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in jail for opposing apartheid, yet emerged to unify South Africa.
•Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested 29 times for demanding civil rights, yet his movement transformed America.
•Aung San Suu Kyi was detained for 15 years, yet became the symbol of democracy in Myanmar.
No government that arrests its conscience survives. Touching Sowore is touching the soul of Nigeria’s democracy.
We invoke the spirits of our heroes
UAD leaders must invoke the fighting spirits of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mallam Aminu Kano, and Dr. Tunji Braithwaite – leaders who used democracy to fight poverty and oppression, not to impoverish or oppress the people.
We also call on the spirits of Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN,GGDM, SAM,CON, Comrade Abiodun Aremu; Comrade Segun Sango; Comrade Don Salami; Comrade Chima Ubani; Comrade Emma Ezeazu; Prof. Ola Oni; Baba Omojola; Festus Iyayi; Dr. Abubakar Momoh; Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; Yinka Odumakin; Bamidele Aturu GDM; Dr. Adewale Balogun; and others, to rise from their graves and fight every oppressor in Nigeria and all those behind the witch-hunt of Sowore.
Final demand
CACOBAG and FSG have full trust in the CACOBAG Chairman to explore all legal and mass mobilization options to secure Sowore’s release.
We also trust that Comrade Femi Falana SAN,GGDM; Wahab Shittu SAN, Jiti Ogunye GDM; Comrade Olumide Fusika SAN, GDM , Joe Nwokedi GDM , Taiwo Hassan GDM , Ayo Ademiluyi,RAN,GDM and others will not fold their arms while democracy is desecrated.
Our demand:
•Immediate and unconditional release of Omoyele Sowore.
•DSS and all security officers in Nigeria must redirect their energy to arresting Turji Bello, who is courageous enough to challenge the government to a fight, as well as terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits destroying Nigeria, instead of witch-hunting advocates for good governance.
•Government must stop using state security as a personal militia to silence opposition.
“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty” – Thomas Jefferson.
Nigeria belongs to all of us, and under no circumstance shall we allow any individual or government to hold the country to ransom.
Nigeria is governed by the rule of law, and that law must be respected.
Free Omoyele Sowore now.
