The Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili a constant critic of President Muhammadu Buhari has demanded that the Federal Government should immediately order the release of the Founder of Sahara Reporters Omoyele Sowore and the four other activists who are currently remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility. 
The Former Minister said this on Monday while on Arise TV, she said to the FG if it doesn’t release Omoyele Sowore and the other five activists who were arrested for the New Year’s Eve crossover protest, then the FG should prepare additional cells for more protesters.
READ ALSO: Court Remands Omoyele Sowore And Others In Kuje Prison
Recall that KOKO TV had earlier reported that Sowore and the other activists were arrested on New Year’s Eve in Abuja for holding a protest against bad governance.
They were subsequently arraigned on three charges of criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and attempting to incite others. The activists, however, denied the charges.
Reacting, Ezekwesili said the activists have the right to protest in a democracy.
The Former Minister said,
“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. Some people are not fair to him in dismissing his advocacy. I don’t dismiss it at all. Every society needs a Yele Sowore and all other groups and movements that consistently advocate for a good society.
“The truth is that the only pillar that has the motivation and has the right incentive to push for change in this society is the citizen’s pillar. Our current political class are not going to overwhelm all of the citizens.
“It will do the president good to ask that Yele Sowore and the other citizens that were imprisoned for merely protesting be released. Everybody in a democracy has the right to protest and that right can never be taken by anyone.
“The president will think of establishing many more cells because if he continues to keep Yele Sowore, his (New Year) speech will mean nothing to anybody, not as if to say anybody bothers to believe what he said because what we have consistently seen over the past years is a president that says one thing and does a completely different thing.”
Photo Credit: Getty
