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General News of Tuesday, 5 January 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

All the concocted charges used by Buhari to silence Sowore

Sowore has been arrested twice within the last year Sowore has been arrested twice within the last year

The recent arrest of activist cum journalist, Owoyele Sowore has formed a dark cloud around the Buhari-led administration. Some have argued that it has taken Nigeria to the days of repression.

The arrest which was the second in the past year occurred on New Year's eve after Sowore and other colleagues embarked on a procession against the government. The goal of the protest was basically to draw the attention of the government to the plight of Nigerians. They intended to warn the government to be more responsive to citizens in the upcoming year (2021).

His arrest has been condemned by many in the media. The media organization he founded, Sahara Reporters began the hashtag "FreeSoworeNow" which is gradually gathering steam on the microblogging platform, Twitter.

Speaking on Arise TV on Monday, January 5, Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili chastised the government for his arrest. She threatened that failure to release Sowore will only birth more protests.

She said change doesn't happen but with resilience.

“There is nowhere we have seen change happen without the resilience of a segment of the population to act regardless of the oppression that may be against it. That is why we must all applaud the resilience of Yele Sowore."

Sahara Reporters has said that Sowore who is currently in the custody of the police in Kuje Correctional facility in Abuja is embarking on a hunger strike unless the police gives him access to his books.

According to the news portal, the former presidential candidate has been denied access to his books by men of the security service.

The action compelled the activist to reject the foods, clothes, and other items that were brought for him, according to Sahara Reporters.

He vowed not to eat any of the foods unless the police allowed him to have access to his books.

He said, “I cannot feed my stomach when I haven’t fed my brain."

Since he was picked up on August 2, 2019, he has been charged with seven counts of money laundering and conspiracy.

See more below

1. Treason

In August 2019, Sowore who represented African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2019 general election was arrested and charged by a Federal High Court. According to the charges, his #RevolutionNow campaign was aimed at removing the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during his term of office.



2. Cyberstalking

The Buhari-led administration accused Sowore of cyberstalking after he[Sowore] spoke continuously against some government policies.

According to the charges, Sowore used his news platform and his social media platforms to allegedly shared false information about Buhari, insulted him, and incited hated against him.

Buhari has faced criticism for his administration’s human rights record, particularly a deadly crackdown on members of a now-banned Shi’ite group that a United Nations special rapporteur said involved the excessive use of lethal force, Reuters reports.