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| Omoyele Sowore |
The arrest and detention of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore for championing the #RevolutionNow protest against the Buhari administration, is still making headlines. The arrest drew the ire of human rights activists across the world who accuse the Buhari government for violating the rights of Nigerians to protest against the ills of his administration.
Adding to the list of voices condemning Buhari's action, a former Chairman, Transparency International, Nigeria chapter, Maj. Gen Ola Ishola Williams (Rtd) has said that the arrest of Sowore was a big mistake by the Buhari administration due to the sensitivity of the issue and the fact that Nigeria is no longer under military rule.
Gen. Ishola expressed his disappointment with the Buhari administration's handling of the #RevolutionNow protest in an interview granted by the Daily Sun.
While responding to question on the arrest and detention of the activist, and former presidential candidate of the Africa Action Congress party (AAC), over his Revolution Now campaign, Ishola said the Buhari administration has made Sowore a hero by arresting him.
He said, "The Federal Government made a mistake by ordering Sowore’s arrest. By arresting Sowore, Buhari’s government has turned Sowore into a hero. By arresting him, they’ve made Sowore more popular.
"If those in government are wise, they would have let Sowore continue with his protests and calls for a revolution. After sometime, he will get tired as his call for a revolution will not be heeded by Nigerians. Revolution can never happen or take place in Nigeria."
On why he thinks revolution cannot happen in Nigeria, he said, "It is very simple: our leaders who want the status quo to remain will play Nigerians against one another.
"They will use the ethnic card to polarize and divide Nigerians. One point to note again is this: most people are just shouting Buhari, Buhari, but it is not only Buhari that is the problem––obviously, Buhari is failing, he has not been inspiring, and any Nigerian who puts any hope in Buhari is wasting his time––the state governors are also a big burden to this nation," he said.
