In a statement made available to Newsmen, the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, stressing on some of the insinuations in the media about the arrest by the DSS.said the “DSS does not necessarily need the permission of the Presidency in all cases to carry out its essential responsibilities that are laid down in the Nigerian Constitution – which was the foundation for the restoration of democracy in our country in 1999.
He noted that Sowore is a person of interest to the DSS, and the secret police only acted under its power.
According to Garba Shehu, “Sowore called for a revolution to overthrow the democratically elected government of Nigeria.
“He did so on television, and from a privileged position as the owner of a widely read digital newspaper run from the United States of America. Sowore founded an organisation, Revolution Now, to launch, in their own words, “Days of Rage”, with the publicised purpose of fomenting mass civil unrest and the elected administration’s overthrow.
“No government will allow anybody to openly call for destabilization in the country and do nothing.
“Mr. Sowore, who was a presidential candidate himself, ran – and lost – as the flag bearer of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the February 23 general elections, is not, by any reconning, "an ordinary citizen who could have been said to be expessing his views freely on social media and the internet.
“Nigeria’s democracy was a long time in the making, and was achieved after decades of often harsh, military-led overthrows of government: the kind of situation Sowore was advocating.
“To believe in and desire armed revolution is not normal amongst ‘human rights activists’, as Sowore has been incorrectly described.
“Again, it is no surprise that he should be a person of interest to the DSS.
The Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu said “Nigeria is already dealing with an insurgency that has left millions of people displaced in the northeastern region of our country", stressing that "the Boko Haram militants, who are behind the violence, also fancy themselves to be fighting for some sort of revolution.
“Nigerians do not need another spate of lawlessness and loss of lives all in the name of ‘revolution’, especially not one that is orchestrated by a man who makes his home in far away New York and who can easily disappear and leave behind whatever instability he intends to cause, to wit, Nnamdi Kanu."
“This is a matter for the DSS, acting under its powers.” Garba reiterated
Sowore who was first arrested on August 3, 2019 by DSS, was released on Thursday evening and rearrested on Friday after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu adjourned the matter till 11th, 12th and 13th of February for definite hearing..
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