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Human rights activist, politician and founder of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, while speaking with Ajibade David, sheds light on his recent arrest by the Department of State Services upon his arrival from the US, and his commitment to challenging irregularities in the present administration
You were arrested on Sunday at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport upon your arrival from the US. What prompted the arrest?
Tyrannical governments need no reason to arrest those who dare to speak truth to power. The arrest was aimed at intimidating me and scaring me away from my own country. They had no reasonable basis for my arrest and provided no justification for my illegal detention. I assume their fear was that my presence would encourage more people to protest in October, prompting their attempt to silence me.
What they forget is that truth cannot be silenced. They can lock me up and throw away the keys, but it won’t stop people from hearing the rumblings of their hungry stomachs. Silencing me won’t quell the cries of anguish from 220 million Nigerians groaning under the weight of the Tinubu government.
You mentioned that this could be due to their fear of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt movement. Do you think this arrest has disrupted the initial plan?
Despite their best efforts to stifle the legitimate right of the people to protest peacefully, didn’t Nigerians take to the streets for 10 days during the last protests held in August? If they think arresting me will deter people this time around, they are mistaken.
In just a couple of months since the protests, have conditions improved for the average Nigerian? The answer is no! Fuel costs more, transportation costs have risen, and the naira has further devalued. I’ll reiterate: individuals can be silenced, but truth can never be silenced. Whether I am arrested or not, the Nigerian people will express themselves—through any form of protest.
You urged Nigerians to resist tyranny by all means acceptable and necessary. How do you suggest citizens go about it?
By protesting consistently, making their voices heard in revolts, and calling out the excesses of the Tinubu-led government and the enablers in the National Assembly, state assemblies, and security forces.
Every act of defiance counts and will expand in the coming days. The government wants to stifle all voices and pretend that silence means people are on board with their plans. Why should people remain silent when the government claims there is scarcity and hardship while they buy new planes and bulletproof cars?
Do you consider the cause for your arrest reasonable?
No, it wasn’t. An arrest without just cause can never be considered reasonable.
However, I’m not surprised. I have come to expect such unreasonable actions from the Nigerian state and its operators. It is currently now the APC government, and it started with Babangida, Obasanjo, and Buhari, and has continued under the Tinubu administration.
Every regime in Nigeria has targeted me since I became a student activist in the early ‘90s.
Do you feel safe in the country knowing you could be arrested again at any time?
This is my country and my home. I will never be cowed into silence in my land.
They can arrest me, slam me with false treason charges—like they have before—or come up with other spurious allegations, but I will never be silenced, and I will never stop fighting for good governance in Nigeria.
As the founder of Sahara Reporters, how do you plan to use your media platform to liberate Nigerian?
Sahara Reporters was founded for precisely those reasons—to liberate Nigerians.
When Obasanjo was attempting to impose a third-term agenda on Nigerians, Sahara Reporters was one of the only entities brave enough to expose that scheme.
During the Umaru Yaradua administration, when a small cabal was misleading Nigerians about the president’s health, we fearlessly brought the truth to light.
We have exposed countless cases of corruption and highlighted the struggles of many oppressed individuals and groups in Nigeria.
That mission remains unchanged, and I am as committed to it today as I was on the day Sahara Reporters was established.
Do you think the Federal Government should focus more on combating terrorism and banditry rather than targeting opposition politicians?
Absolutely! Just a few weeks ago, terrorists massacred an entire village. Daily, Nigerians are kidnapped and terrorised all over the country. Farmers have abandoned their farms, leading to food shortages and inflation, while catastrophic floods devastate our people in Borno State and other parts of the nation.
You would think a government facing such immense challenges would focus on addressing these issues rather than pursuing those they consider their opposition.
To be clear, I don’t consider myself an opposition politician. For the last three decades, I have been a committed patriot, speaking up for the rights of the Nigerian people. I reject the notion of “opposition”—those labelled as such are often merely waiting in line for their turn to loot the treasury. I am not one of them.
What other advice do you have for the government?
I am not interested in advising those who have sworn to destroy Nigeria. They won’t listen to advice, and they need to face the consequences of their actions and inactions. I am more focused on joining Nigerians to liberate themselves from this group of recalcitrant destroyers.
What advice would you give to protesters to help them avoid being arrested during peaceful protests?
I salute all those determined to ensure their voices are heard against the despotic actions of the government. It’s ironic that Bola Tinubu, who masqueraded as a NADECO activist and claimed to be part of pro-democracy protests, is now the most anti-democratic person to ever sit in the presidency.
Those who protest should maintain consistency and resilience, regardless of the provocations they face. Our only weapon is truth, and we will wear that shield of truth with courage, no matter what comes our way.
I remain committed to fighting for a Nigeria where the voice of the people is heard and their choices at the ballot box are respected.
However, we must first redefine and restore real democracy; it is evident that the current situation is not democracy!
