By Emmanuel Sixtus
The federal government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Amed Tinubu, has embraced a vindictive strategy and uses trumped-up charges and accusations to confront those they feel are up against the bad leadership in the country.
Each time protests to demand good governance or accountability come up, the administration targets the kingpins of such legal moves with blood libel. A move that often ends up with their victims in court or detention facilities of the Department of State Security.
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and activist, is the next in line for the blood libel of the administration. He was accused of treason for championing a protest.
The owner of SaharaReporters, an online news paper in the country, has strongly criticised the Bola Tinubu administration for suggesting that recent protests nationwide are connected to efforts to destabilise and overthrow the government.
He knew keeping mum would rather give the wolf the impetus to attack, and being a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political and activist circles, Sowore had to publicly address these accusations during the #FearlessInOctober protests in Lagos.
The activist who failed to make a significant impact in the political arena of the country when he contested for the presidency was the face of the protest organised on the first of October.
The protests, driven by concerns over poor governance and socio-economic issues, have seen protestors calling for reforms and accountability. In response, government officials opined that the unrest could be part of a larger plan to challenge the legitimacy of Tinubu’s administration. However, Sowore quickly rejected these allegations.
“It is hypocritical for the same government that benefitted from protests like ‘Occupy Nigeria’ while in opposition to now criminalising the legitimate grievances of the Nigerian people,” Sowore said while making a public address. He further said that the protests are merely an expression of discontent with the government, not an attempt to overthrow it. His remarks captured the widespread depressions of many Nigerians, particularly in light of rising inflation, insecurity, and controversial policies.
This is not the first time Sowore has been under attack; he was accused of being behind the EndBadGovernance protest in the country, a protest that lasted for ten days and nearly led to armed confrontations in the Northern, although the Southeast of Nigeria distanced its region from the protest, which threatened the result.
The protest was largely considered unproductive, even though it forced the President to address the protestors, but his address didn’t address the concerns of the demonstrators who had listed their demands to the government.
Sowore quickly left the country after the country, but was reportedly declared wanted by the federal government for his role in the protest, which the government said was against the country’s interest.
In return, Sowore released a statement from his base in the United States and said that he would be back in Nigeria and that he was not afraid of standing up to the administration, which has embraced anti-people policies.
The controversial activist has also spent time in detention for his various roles in demonstrating against the government of the day. His dual citizenship has helped attract international attention to his predicaments in the hands of the governments of the country.
Reacting to the legitimacy of the protest, Sowore also compared these protests to those that occurred under previous administrations, especially when members of the current ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), were in opposition. He questioned the government’s position, pointing out that peaceful protests are a constitutional right and essential to a functioning democracy.
Sowore was accused of turning against Goodluck Jonathan to usher in the reign of the APC when his news company championed a campaign to help former President Muhammadu Buhari win the election.
The activist later apologised to Nigerians for supporting Buhari over Goodluck. The reign of the APC ushered in a flurry of bad policies that have caused the downfall of the country and affected the economy negatively.
The move to change the reality of the economy and the country with civil actions continues to meet opposition from the federal government.
The protests are occurring against a backdrop of broader civil unrest across Nigeria, driven by dissatisfaction with economic challenges and perceived government failures. The suggestion that these protests could be linked to a coup plot has further heightened tensions, with concerns growing over the potential erosion of democratic freedoms.
So far, the government has not provided evidence to support claims of a coup plot, but Sowore’s criticism highlights a growing divide between the administration and civil society activists. As protests continue, many are watching closely to see how the government will handle the increasing discontent without suppressing dissenting voices.
The blood libel is aimed at quiet voices in the country, with the federal government quite concerned that the people could be instigated against it.
Sowere is determined and has vowed to continue to call out the government even though it cost his life.
He had openly called for revolution against the politicians in the country but had wisely ensured he acts within the confines of the law of the country to avoid giving the government a chance to nail him.
