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Sahara Reporters writer, Omoyele Sowore, is about to depart for the US right this moment (Friday), marking his first journey out Nigeria since his authorized troubles with the federal authorities began in August 2019.
Mr Sowore introduced his journey plan in a press release shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.
Within the assertion, Mr Sowore, a two-time presidential candidate of the African Motion Congress (AAC), stated he would get the chance to see his spouse and youngsters for the primary time since 2019.
“Later right this moment I will likely be returning to the US after virtually 5 years of my illegal, unjust and inhuman detention by the corrupt Nigerian political system since August 2019,” Mr Sowore stated.
Mr Sowore stated the ordeal denied him the flexibility to go to his household, “lacking out on valuable moments with my darling spouse and fantastic youngsters.”
Background of Mr Sowore’s travail with the Nigerian authorities
Mr Sowore was arrested in August 2019 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari for initiating protests he tagged: #RevolutionNow Protests.
He was arrested by SSS operatives earlier than the scheduled day of the demonstration organised to name out Mr Buhari over his alleged misgovernance of the nation on the time.
He was charged by the then Legal professional Normal of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, through the Buhari administration over their deliberate protest. He was subsequently charged with treason.
Whereas the case dragged on in court docket, Mr Sowore, who was earlier than his arrest shuttling between Nigeria and the US, the place his household relies, grappled with stringent bail situations that restricted his motion to Abuja.
Reprieve got here his manner in April 2022, when the Court docket of Enchantment in Abuja lifted the motion restriction imposed on him, permitting him to journey inside Nigeria.
Whereas the case dragged on in court docket, Mr Sowore was freed on 19 February following the applying of discover of discontinuance filed by the Nigerian authorities by means of the Legal professional Normal of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
Learn Mr Sowore’s assertion right here.
Later right this moment I will likely be returning to the US after virtually 5 years of my illegal, unjust and inhuman detention by the corrupt Nigerian political system since August 2019.
I used to be arrested, assaulted, tortured and detained for demanding that Nigerians deserved a nation that they will actually name their very own. I used to be charged with treason – and after 5 years the APC authorities was pressured to withdraw its trumped up expenses in opposition to me.
If the federal government thought that preserving me detained, and later proscribing my motion would break my spirit, and trigger me to surrender my dedication to combating for the downtrodden Nigerian individuals, they’re mistaken.
Within the final 5 years, I’ve been denied the flexibility to go to my household, lacking out on valuable moments with my darling spouse and fantastic youngsters. I misplaced my brother to gunmen on Nigeria’s roads. My mom’s well being deteriorated, as a result of emotional toll of the federal government’s unrelenting assault on my particular person. My associates have confronted arrest, and a few imprisonment.
I stand right this moment to declare that I’m unbowed. My dedication to Nigeria is unshakable. My resolve to proceed to battle for the betterment of the Nigerian nation and to demand accountability from her leaders won’t ever be compromised.
Every little thing we stated 5 years in the past concerning the want for a radical restructuring of the Nigerian nation and the necessity for a revolution in our strategy to politics and governance has come to go. Corruption stays excessive and Nigerians are worse off right this moment than they had been 5 years in the past. Inflation is making it tough for individuals to place meals on the desk. Nigeria’s forex has been devalued by virtually 100%.
ALSO READ: Court docket strikes out treasonable felony expenses in opposition to Sowore
I’m beneath no illusions about what the longer term holds. I commuted myself to the mission of serving to to create a Nigeria that fulfills its promise and realizes its potential, over 30 years in the past. I’ve suffered drastically for that dedication. My household, colleagues, and associates who’ve stood by me all through this journey have endured nice ache and privations as nicely.
For individuals who marvel what my subsequent steps will likely be – I say this: I consider now, as I did over 30 years in the past after I started this journey, that the imaginative and prescient of making a simply and egalitarian society should be established throughout my lifetime.
My journey right this moment to reunite with my youngsters and brave and supportive spouse is just for a short time. I’ll return to Nigeria to proceed my wrestle for the full liberation of our individuals from the shackles of the present corrupt, self serving political class. I can even be returning to face headlong, the remaining truckload of bogus legal and civil circumstances which have been thrown at me since my detention in 2019.
Let me use this chance to thank my household, attorneys notably Femi Falana SAN, colleagues, and fellow revolutionaries at residence and overseas who’ve stood firmly by my facet, in opposition to all odds.
Nigeria will likely be free. Nigerians will see a nation that is freed from corruption, that has leaders whose solely curiosity is in uplifting the individuals and creating an atmosphere the place our individuals can understand their potential.
I stay dedicated to this preferrred. It’s a dedication that I’ve devoted my life to, and my resolve to remain the trail and stick with the battle stays robust!
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