Sowore did nothing wrong, FG should release him – says Falana

Femi Falana, human rights activist, has again called on the Federal Government to release Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow movement.

Falana said this at a symposium organised by the Coalition for Revolution (CORE), in Lagos, on Monday.

Sowore, who was also the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in the 2019 elections, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) two days before a planned protest.

Falana assured that all those who have been arrested and charged with unlawful assembly and breach of the peace in Osun, Cross River, and Lagos states are going to be defended.

“Those who went to the street to protest in exercise of their right to assemble and complain against injustice, corruption, maladministration in our country, cannot be said to be said to have breached any law in our country,” he said.

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“Therefore, the man who was arrested before the protest (Sowore) will also be defended because he has committed no offence. It will interest you to know that even under the colonial regime, Nigerians fought and defended their rights… So let the authorities in Abuja know that the call for revolution is not new. Political leaders in this country have been calling for revolution and nobody charge them with any offence.”

On his part, Femi Aborishade, a human rights activist, also called for the release of Sowore.

“There is no offence in saying they are protesting on the programme of #RevolutionNow. What many people don’t know is that the Nigerian constitution permits people to revolt against any policy of government that are against their interest,” he said.

“Let me use this opportunity to demand the immediate release of Sowore and all other political prisoners in Nigeria… Nigeria has been turned into a prison. We will fight to ensure that Nigeria enjoys fundamental freedom.”

CORE has based its #RevolutionNow movement on five demands which include an economy for works for all masses; an effective and democratic end to insecurity; an end to corruption and for total system of change; the immediate implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage; and free and quality education for all.