Eko Hot Blog reports that Omoyele Sowore, a pro-democracy activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 elections, has announced his plans to depart Nigeria for the United States to reunite with his family. This decision comes following the Federal Government’s decision to drop the treasonable felony case against him.
The publisher of Sahara Reporters expressed his five-year separation from his family in the US as “unlawful, unjust, and inhuman detention by the corrupt Nigerian political system since August 2019.”
The media reports that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, in a document dated February 15, 2024, addressed to the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, disclosed his intention to also discontinue the case against Sowore’s co-defendant, Olawale Bakare aka Mandate.
Sowore, on Friday, via his Facebook account, criticised the All Progressives Congress(APC) government led by former President Muhammadu Buhari for his detention.
In the lengthy post titled, ‘The Struggle Continues: Sowore Departs for USA after Five Years’, he wrote, “Later today, I will be returning to the US after almost five years of my unlawful, unjust and inhuman detention by the corrupt Nigerian political system since August 2019.
“I was arrested, assaulted, tortured, and detained for demanding that Nigerians deserved a nation that they can truly call their own. I was charged with treason – and after five years, the APC government was forced to withdraw its trumped-up charges against me.
“If the government thought that keeping me detained and later restricting my movement would break my spirit and cause me to renounce my commitment to fighting for the downtrodden Nigerian people, they are mistaken.”
Sowore expressed that his years in detention caused him to miss important moments with his wife and children, and his mother’s health suffered due to the relentless challenges he faced. Additionally, he mentioned that his associates experienced arrests and some even faced imprisonment.
Continuing, the activist said, “In the last five years, I have been denied the ability to visit my family, missing out on I lost my brother to gunmen on Nigeria’s roads. I stand today to declare that I am unbowed. My commitment to Nigeria is unshakable. My resolve to continue to fight for the betterment of the Nigerian nation and to demand accountability from her leaders will never be compromised.
“Everything we said five years ago about the need for a radical restructuring of the Nigerian nation and the need for a revolution in our approach to politics and governance has come to pass. Corruption remains high and Nigerians are worse off today than they were five years ago. Inflation is making it difficult for people to put food on the table. Nigeria’s currency has been devalued by almost 100 percent.
“I am under no illusions about what the future holds. Over thirty years ago, I committed myself to helping to create a Nigeria that fulfills its promise and realizes its potential. I have suffered greatly for that commitment. My family, colleagues, and associates who have stood by me throughout this journey have also endured great pain and privations.
“For those who wonder what my next steps will be – I say this: I believe now, as I did over 30 years ago when I began this journey, that the vision of creating a just and egalitarian society must be established during my lifetime.
He expressed gratitude to his lawyers, colleagues, and supporters both at home and abroad, including Femi Falana, SAN. He also conveyed optimism that Nigeria will eventually break free from corruption.
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