The Presidency on Thursday faulted activist, Omoyele Sowore’s plan to organise a protest march to the State House, Abuja, to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The activist, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, doubles as the publisher of Sahara Reporters, an online news platform.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, taking to his X handle, described Sowore as ‘an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist.’
Onanuga accused Sowore of planning to incite disorder under the guise of a protest against government.
The publisher had earlier announced that the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration would be held on October 20 at 7 a.m., describing it a ‘historic’ protest to press for release of the IPOB leader.
According to the presidential spokesman, the move is a deliberate attempt to undermine the rule of law, warning that the IPOB leader’s ongoing trial on charges of treason must be allowed to run its lawful course.
He tweeted, ‘You are nothing more than an anarchist masquerading as a rights activist. You very well know that Nnamdi Kanu is facing trial for treason, and yet you want to cause a breakdown of law and order by mobilising for a protest. Is this the kind of revolution you envisage for Nigeria, where the rule of law will be violated and your idea of justice would be the law of the jungle?’
He also chided former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for expressing support for the planned protest, describing his stance as opportunistic and irresponsible for a statesman of his standing.
Onanuga notes ‘I am surprised that ex-VP Atiku Abubakar, who is always opportunistic, has supported the planned mob action. As a statesman, he should know better that matters of justice are not resolved on the streets but in the law court.’
He reaffirmed that while the judicial process in Kanu’s case may appear slow, the administration remains committed to due process and the rule of law.
He wrote, ‘While the wheel of justice can sometimes be grindingly slow, partly caused by Kanu’s lawyers, Nnamdi Kanu will eventually get the justice he deserves for his alleged transgressions.’