Emergency activists and the soul of Nigeria

Today, we are confronted with the furore over the lawful detention of the #RevolutionNowProtests convener, Mr. Omoyele Sowore and his co-accused, Olawale Bakare over charges of treasonable felony and allied count allegations. He is in lawful detention in the facility of the Department of State Security Service (DSS). Justice Ijuoma Ojukwu has granted Sowore and his comrade in arms bail.

But instead of approaching the bail diligently by meeting the conditions as stipulated by the court or complying with the operational procedures of the DSS for Sowore’s release, we are playing to the gallery, as usual with impunity because there is a leader to blame.

Even Sowore’s lead counsel, a famous human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana has surprisingly enlisted into the clan of confusionists and rabble rousers over Sowore’s release. His actions hints me that he is more interested in currying public sympathy and support to portray the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari, as unjustly holding Sowore, a pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2019 general elections.

Quite unfortunately, some Nigerians, including intellectuals are brainwashed into believing their schemes. For instance, a few days ago, a group of 11 Nigerian academics, lawyers and journalists in Diaspora, led by Ebenezer Obadare of University of Kansas, USA issued a joint public statement calling for the release of Sowore and Bakare and blaming Buhari for his woes.

We must recognize that Sowore is a mere addition to the flock of externally influenced conspirators, very determined to push the country into extinct. Before him, there was Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

There is yet another potent agent of Nigeria’s destabilization, with external sponsorship. The leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) or simply, the Shiites in Nigeria, Sheik Ibraheem ElZakzaky has been a thorn in the flesh of Northern Nigeria. The sect members freely instigate unprovoked violence and killings.

But as characteristic of some Nigerians, we are inexplicably crucifying the Buhari Presidency for “illegal” detention of ElZakzaky, even after the IMN publicly pledged allegiance to the Republic of Iran, a terrorists nation in the Middle East.

Lest we forget, Nigeria is not the only African country under this spell or targeted for dismemberment by external forces. And the target is on African nations with enormous naturally endowed wealth and where there is bright prospect for prosperity.

There is the Somalian case of a war raging over 20 years. But let’s ask ourselves where is democracy in the oil-rich Libya now, after external forces influenced and instigated a masses popular revolt, exploiting the platform of the February 2011 Arab spring? It led to the ouster and death of Libyan strongman, Col. Maummar Gadaffi.

The former Libyan dictator was ousted seven months into the Arab spring and killed by opposition rebels; “with the help of the larger international community,” writes Babjee Pothuraju. It’s something, which has stabbed me in the heart and has continued to occupy my psyche over a long time.

The likes of Sowore, Kanu, El-Zakzaky and hordes of other accomplices have been allegedly recruited to spearhead the struggle for Nigeria’s break-up, through carefully instigated internal crisis. So, lawyers, academics and journalists have keyed into this agenda too, relentlessly pulling the strings. The invisible drummer is elsewhere beating the drums, but those dancing on the stage knows the source of the rhythms.

The DSS has made a simple request in conformity with their operational etiquettes. It unambiguously said, those who signed for Sowore’s bail bond, should also appreciate the office to take him on bail. Why is compliance so difficult? Falana has been threatening since the last eight working days to institute contempt charge on the DSS. But he has not done so. He rather prefers to unofficially engage the DSS-DG on phone calls.

Why? Because as senior lawyer, he knows the procedures of release of any detainee arrested by the state and granted bail by courts. Yet, he is not prepared to follow due process, but in its stead, he follows the herds instincts of those who mobilized and invaded DSS office to forcefully “take away” Sowore. Who would be held responsible if Sowore fails to appear in court on the scheduled date? Like in the case of Kanu, they would be the same characters claiming President Buhari has killed and buried Sowore in DSS detention facility.

I align absolutely with the response of Ms. Lauretta Onochie, Special aide to President Buhari on social media, after she gave a thumps up to DSS boss, Mr. Yusuf Bichi for refusing to pick Falana’s calls.

She tweeted last Friday In a tweet in Friday, “Good job DG Bichi. DSS means Department of State Services NOT Department of Sowore Services. The demands of the DSS are unambiguous, clear and straightforward. Tell the Sureties to go and sign him out.” Nigerian compatriots, is this too difficult an assignment to accomplish?

I stand with her position completely. Anyone under the fake illusion that the ongoing trial of Sowore is between the Buhari administration and the selfacclaimed activist, which are dozens on the streets of Nigeria, must have his head re-examined for mental disorder.

We cannot flinch on this fight between the truth that we must know and the external forces after the soul of Nigeria. I mean those forces who want to disintegrate the country at all cost, using our own compatriots. We don’t want the Libyan experience, so the DSS must stand firm to resist this nonsense!

The manner we appreciate national security threats, obviously backed by foreign forces, very soon, we shall rally support for Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau, if he is given a second chance.

Meanwhile I have never read a Nigerian journalist who has undertaken and published a detailed report on Shekau’s cord with terror groups in Iran and the Middle East. It will be a breaking story on any tabloid.

In essence, whatever name the internal agents hired for the break-up of Nigeria, decide to adopt, whether in English or any vernacular as may be handed to them by their paymasters, all we know is that they will never and should not be allowed to break up Nigeria. It is my message to them now.

Sowore is by every nuance, an inconsequential detainee to President Buhari as a person. Each one of us must be vigilante now because I suspect many more Sowores will still bounce on the stage. No foreign force should use the cloak of street activism to veil and blur our eyes. Nigeria must remain united and continue to move forward in the #NextLevel under President Buhari #.

Ajayi wrote this piece from Ibadan.