At about the same time that President Muhammadu Buhari eventually consented to let Shiite leader, Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, go on medical pilgrimage to India, another executive prisoner was making his way to jail. Omoyele Sowore, founder of SaharaReporters and one of the presidential candidates in the 2019 elections, was arrested by the DSS for daring to call for #RevolutionNow.

The significance of this “prisoner-swap” was not lost on all of us. A close friend whispered to me that, “The President must be under strict instructions from his spiritual advisers (they are no longer called marabouts or juju priests) to keep a certain number of people incarcerated to appease the gods of power.”

It turned out that el-Zakzaky’s trip to India was just a ruse. It was actually to appease a number of the DSS officials who were given an all-expense-paid trip abroad with taxpayers’ money. Lucky chaps eh? The Shiite leader and his wife got to India alright, but claimed there was nothing medical about their visit as security officials were literally running the tests by themselves! There were even insinuations that the couple were more unsafe in India than Nigeria as they could have been easily dispensed with under “medical supervision” – if you get my drift. So, they speedily asked to be flown home without further delay.

But this story is about Sowore, not el-Zakzaky, and I promise not to digress any further.

As we speak, the Ondo-born media buff is still cooling his feet in gulag. A competent court of law has denied him bail, insisting that security authorities have a right to hold him for up to 45 days while “investigating” his crime. That’s another way of sentencing one to jail well before one’s case is heard, and “nothing will happen.” Or saying that it is procedurally right to arrest someone before deciding whether or not they committed a crime! This is a wonderful time to be a law enforcement officer!

Many of us are beginning to worry that Nigerian courts are gradually putting a judicial stamp of authority on executive rascality in a constitutional democracy.

But there’s a bright side: We’re making steady progress up the ladder as one of the most draconian democracies of the world. Recall that only recently we became the poverty capital of the world. So, more trophies are coming our way. Besides, we should be grateful to God that our President is not the leader of Hong Kong where the youth have been protesting for months now.

What Sowore’s jailers probably don’t reckon with is that he is a well-rehearsed jail tenant. In his earlier days as a student union leader at the University of Lagos, he was on several times arrested and detained for activism. He even lost two years in school for his persuasions. So, he’s not exactly an aje butter who would break down and cry under incarceration. Instead, his convictions and resolve will solidify. Throwing such a guy into detention is like pouring petrol on fire.

The Igbo have a saying that a wrestler who pins another to the ground pins himself also. He is free only when he lets his opponent go. The lyrics of the inimitable singer, Asa, re-echo the same message in her hit song, Jailer: “I’m in chains, you’re in chains too; I wear uniforms, you wear uniforms too…”

For as long as the like of Sowore and el-Zakzaky are in jail, President Buhari is in their company also. He is in the jail of public perception and opinion. If they catch diarrhoea, the President’s bowels must move violently also – in view of what happened to MKO Abiola in 1998. Rushing in and out of toilet is not the best way to go about the difficult task of leadership. It’s evidence of jail of the mind. As Fela Anikulap-Kuti would say, “All jail na jail.”

If I were Buhari, I would not do Sowore the honour of throwing him into detention. The guy would quickly morph into a superstar, for God’s sake. I would remind myself that all through history, jail has been the breeding ground for soon-to-be leaders. Mugabe, Mandela, Obasanjo… the list is endless. Why would I want to turn “that small boy” into a celebrity with my own hands?

I would turn his “insult” into motivation for “revolutionizing” governance in Nigeria. I would go into my room, lock the doors and think long and hard about how to please the people I lead once again. I would drive members of my cabinet to their limits until they come up with bright ideas (beyond Ruga) to dispel the darkness now gathering around Aso Rock. I would shake those fat cats up so much that their heads would spin. After all, they are in the same boat with me, enjoying the ride and taking none of the heat.

I would insist that every minister, special adviser or special assistant genuinely earns their pay. Not warm their seat all day as they currently seem to be doing. Except, perhaps, the problem is not with the ministers but with the Chief Minister himself!! In that case, I pass. No comment.

Leadership is not a tea party. Leading a country like Nigeria is not for the faint hearted. I am often tempted to feel sorry for Buhari, considering his many travails. But I refuse to give in to that temptation. After all, we no send am. It doesn’t make sense to feel sorry for a man who crawled, craved and cried for a job and eventually got it. Then, he went to sleep on the job! Even when he had a glorious chance to walk away, he let vanity get the better of him. So, he must serve his (jail) time in Aso Rock. We’re all prisoners of the choices we make.

I don’t know what his intelligence chiefs are telling him. But I can tell they’re doing him no good. Should the President by any chance be interested in “original” “follow-come” intelligence from the streets, I would be glad to offer it here for free: Oga, there are nearly 200 million Sowores out there who are earnestly asking for a revolution. Their eyes are red with hunger and anger. Even the operatives are Sowore; it’s just that they’d rather not admit it.

I know that our security chiefs will not like me for putting it so bluntly and, as we say in Nigeria, for trying to “commot garri from their mouth.” But I owe them no apologies. After all, Nigeria is already one big jailhouse. We’re all just changing rooms within the jail.

Anazonwu is a historian and author of the book, What Everyone should know about Nigerian History, Politics & Government


Source: https://www.punchng.com/we-are-all-sowore/

Hmmm

Truth be told military dictatorship till next election...
I'm sorry for those on pmb web

His ordeal hasn't started yet; na Genesis him dey, him never reach Deuteronomy sef.

He was part of those that pulled every punch to discredit Jonathan's administration to enthrone the nightmare he is battling with now. He should dance the music wey him follow form the beat.

Punch speak for yourself because I'm not Sowore. Rubbish.

naija which way.

"for as long as the like of Sowore and el-Zakzaky are in jail, President Buhari is in their company also."

@op, really niqqa??

No we're not

I no be Sowore abeg.

The collective prayers done by MFM against the enemies of MFM is at work. I trust their prayers... If dem no offend you, don't fight them or engage in a libelous lies against them.

He think say Dr D. K.Olukoya na Goodluck Johnathan.

Still on this Sowore issue :
A popular young man on this forum (NwamaIkpe) has said it all.
We concur absolutely with his post below.

That sums up EVERYTHING about this revolution matter.
Nothing more to be added or remove!
Sowore Bobo, keep enjoying your time where you are,
See you after Xmas BGG!

We rise!!

By the Way : We are NOT Sowore,
We are PMB!
PMB is our Dadda!
Wailers, Take note!

Yoloba coward

then go and release him.. sipping my Power bitters

if only our youths following bbn football and other entertainment things can challenge these abnormalities with the same zeal and commitment they give to entertainment

Imagine using your credit to create a viral sms standing against Sowore's illegal detention

See El Zazaki's followers
Who's fighting for Sowore

Where are the youths and Fela fans
This guy is a Fela man, a youth ambassador and advocate

Where's Adeola Fayehun

Sowore will make name in this country soon.

Succinctly put! But the writer needs a self-imposed exile. Else, the men-in-black are coming for him. May Fela’s soul continue to find eternal rest with the almighty. He was right when he opined that we practices DEMONSTRATION OF CRAZE instead of democracy.


What do i know sef? Bingo abeg shut up before dem NEXT LEVEL boys come for you.

The Igbo have a saying that a wrestler who pins another to the ground pins himself also. He is free only when he lets his opponent go.

Lol .
Then leave them to continue the wrestling now!
What a comparison.

Sowore bobo, keep fighting your wrestling jor,
If anyone gets tired, the should call the REFEREE!

Sowore's best of friends (Deji Adeyanju) even deserted him during the so called revolution, he said he has an urgent engagements to attend to,
We are still wondering about what could be so much urgent than revolution!

Please summarize it for me

I no follow o . I no be Mumu Snitch that brought a dullard to power and turned back to blackmail him.

Another film unfolds...

Buhari was exiled and became a president.

Obasanjo went to prison and became a president.

Tinubu was accused and became a head of the ruling party.

Ya' adua uncle died in the prison and Jnr became president..

Nnamdi nearly go, Oga escaped using a keke through Cameroon boarder, Na so so to dey shout dat one dey do now.

Omoyele don go... Wetin e go bi?....

Summary of the epistle, please.

No we aren't

post=82414564:
The Igbo have a saying that a wrestler who pins another to the ground pins himself also. He is free only when he lets his opponent go.

nairaland general manager.

Hmm

Ain't we?

StRichard:
nairaland general manager.

How are you today Nairaland Gateman?
Make sure you lock the gate by 12am on the dot Richard.
See you tomorrow BGG!

Sowore is not leaving Kuje soon for treasonable felony.

If una like, make ins go carry placards and end up joining him.

We are all Sowore!

True assertion, the writer hit the nail on the head with veracious force, this message is something every Nigerian can relate with.

I hope our President hears the cries of the masses before it escalates into a total mess.

God bless the remnants of the mess called Nigeria.

Nice write-up,but the bigots we call youths would rather celebrate Naira Marley and Tacha.




There was a country

[s]

post=82414564:

Lol .
Then leave them to continue the wrestling now..l
What a comparison.

Sowore bobo, keep fighting your wrestling jor,
If anyone gets tired, the should call the REFEREE!

[/s]