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How Sowore got #RevolutionNow wrong – Oshiomhole
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday picked holes in the decision by Mr. Omoyele Sowore to lead the #RevolutionNow protests.
Oshiomhole, who believes the protests are unnecessary, faulted Sowore’s involvement having contested the 2019 presidential election.
Oshiomhole stated that as much as he recognised the rights of citizens to protest under a democracy, such protests must be articulated and well-coordinated in order to have a direction.
The APC chairman, who spoke with reporters at the State House, Abuja on Wednesday, said: “What was the reason for protests? Let us be honest. I have led a series of protests even to this Villa. Whoever wants to protest should articulate the particulars of his grievances and make specific demands about the solutions that he wants.
“So, what exactly, as far as you know, members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, that Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters, a presidential candidate, cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission to bid for power, who had the opportunity to ask Nigerians to vote for him, want? Now, Nigerians have voted, the votes have been counted and he was not a favoured candidate; what does he want now? That Nigerians must make him the President?
“Because we all have to be careful; nobody should talk as if we have another country. We have challenges but somehow we have all resolved as a people that the way to power is in the ballot box. Our task as a people is to continue to work to clean up the system so that only Nigerians alone shall determine who governs them at all levels. That, I believe, is a legitimate thing to fight for.
“But if you want to overthrow, you want a revolution, then he should have spared us INEC putting him on the ballot paper.
“I don’t want to talk about this but I believe Nigerians have a right to protest; I believe people have a right to contest issues; people have the right to disagree. I have often said government doesn’t have the right to dictate to people how to protest, but you must state exactly what you want.”
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