PRESS RELEASE.

COALITION OF GENUINE #ENDSARS PROTESTERS DISOWN SOWORE

The attention of the Genuine #EndSARS protesters has been drawn to the Sunday, November 1, 2020 attempt in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to relaunch the now-rested nationwide demonstrations demanding an end to the dreaded police squad, and general reform of the Nigeria Police.

Leading this unpopular move is one Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of the controversial online news platform, SaharaReporters.

Ordinarily, the Genuine #EndSARS protesters would not have dignified this latest development, but for the character, disposition and antecedent of the person at the centre of this,whose infamy remains unparalleled in contemporary Nigerian politics.

Nigerians will recall that Sowore had, sometime in 2019, attempted to lead a failed ‘revolution’ against the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, leading to his arrest and ongoing trial on a 7-count criminal charge bordering on treason, money laundering and cyber-stalking, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

It may be further recalled that, owing to the entrenchment of democratic tenets under the current administration, which adheres strictly to the principle of rule of law, institutional independence/non-interference, the court graciously granted Sowore bail, with conditions attached therein.

One of such conditions, was a restriction on addressing public gatherings, until the criminal trial was concluded.

In his characteristic disobedience to law and properly constituted authorities, Sowore has continued to observe that aspect of his bail conditions in the breach.

We have taken the pain of articulating these points, to show to the world who this man truly is, as a prelude to the obvious attempt to hijack a worthy cause initiated by patriotic youths with genuine agitations.

Having said this, we wish to unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the attempt by Sowore and his few co-travellers, to relaunch the #EndSARS protests, which have since been rested by the original promoters, to allow action from governments at the various levels.

We make bold to say that, considering the aftermath of the nationwide protests – as seen in the hijack by hoodlums and attendant deaths, destruction of public and private property – no responsible citizen would want to re-ignite the event.

Clearly, this move – to all intent and purposes – is manifestly tendentious, overtly self-serving and anything but altruistic.

It is designed to further his selfish agenda of blackmailing the federal government, and we completely dissociate ourselves from this move by a man seen in many instances as a meddlesome interloper, who seeks to hijack Noble causes, for premeditated ends.

We hereby call on millions of our articulate, ever-conscious and responsible youths across the 36 states of the federation, and the FCT, to resist this latest antics by Sowore, as it will not only threaten the relative peace being enjoyed today, but disturb the socio-economic fabric of a nation negotiating recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Signed:

Dr Orji Nwakocha (South East); Dr Aremu Babatunde (South West); Comrade Frank Jaja (South South); Alhaji Ibrahim Dan Iya (North West); Sheik Mohammed Adamu (North East); Mr Dakwohi Samson (FCT); and Comrade Peter Yohana (North Central).

November 3, 2020

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Coalition of Genuine #ENDSARS Protesters Disown Sowore