Omoyele Sowore’s Stupid Revolution


By: Deji Yesufu


No people in the world ever did achieve their freedom by goody-goody talk and moral suasion: it being an immutable law that all revolution that will succeed must begin in blood, whatever may answer afterwards – Mark Twain

It was a slightly chilly morning one day in 1991 when my parents entered the office of an American immigration officer. They had come to discuss the possibility of having their four boys go live in the United States of America. Mother had been in the USA since 1988 when she went to do a Master’s degree program in photography. By the time she concluded her program in 1990, she was unwilling to return to Nigeria. Back then, Nigeria was actually not a country to return to because the “Maradona”, General Ibrahim Babangida, was still not sure whether or not he would be handing over power to a civilian government. Coupled with the fact that Babangida had just recovered from the bloodiest coup the Nigerian state had ever witnessed—the Gideon Orkar coup, the uncertainty was too great. So, while Babangida played ping-pong with the future of the country, the economy was nose diving.

Mother would not return to such a country. My siblings and I lived with our father in Northern Nigeria. Dad had visited mother for a prolonged period from 1989 to 1991 and that visit had resulted in another baby sister, Doyin – a young woman I have never met even up till this moment that I am writing this. Our younger sister, Wumi, eventually got the favour of the American Immigration and joined mother and father in 1991. My three brothers and I were left behind in this hell of a country called Nigeria. It was in a desperate move to relocate us from Nigeria that my parents had visited the US immigration officer.

After the initial greetings, my dad went straight to the crux of the matter: “How can the boys join us in America?” The situation was dicey. The youngest boy at that time was nine while the oldest was fifteen, but we were not offered the immigrant status that Wumi enjoyed. Mother was desperate.

“What can you do for us,” she asked plaintively.

The immigration officer looked at her and smiled. “Madam, your children will be fine, even if they have to live the rest of their lives in Nigeria.”

“But I don’t want them to live in that country…,” Mother protested.

Dad was silent.

“But you say they are four boys?”

“Yes…?”

“Boys have a greater tenacity for survival than many of us parent credit them with.”

“It appears you did not get our point: we want our children out of that country.”

“Is Nigeria at war presently?”

“No. Why did you ask?”

“Because even if that country was at war, your boys will survive. In fact, it is boys their age that are known to fight in battles when countries go to war.”

“My children will not be fighting anybody’s war.”

With that statement from my mother, the meeting was about over. Daddy told my brothers and me that story one day after he returned from the USA. Does this story have any relevance to Sowore’s stupid revolution?

In August 2019, Omoyele Sowore and a host of other youths decided to embark on a nationwide protest which they titled “Revolution Now”. Days before the protest began, Sowore made some utterances, the video recording of which was widely shared on social media. He stated that these were not going to be mere protests; he and his fellows were committed to making the nation ungovernable through their street protests. They were seen making graffiti on the walls of public buildings. A day to the commencement of the protest, Sowore was picked up by men of the Department of State Security (DSS). He was in detention for 125 days. After a judge had threatened the DSS with contempt of court, Sowore was released last week Thursday only to be rearrested the following morning. There was outrage from many Nigerians because the DSS sought to arrest him right inside the courtroom.

The social media went agog. Many people who cared little about the activist’s words in the past felt that the action of the DSS was a desecration of Nigeria’s democracy. A security outfit under the Presidency had invaded another arm of government, the judiciary. In one of the debates that I got into while discussing this matter on social media, a lady described the revolution that Sowore was leading as a “stupid” revolution. I knew immediately that whenever I would express my opinion on Sowore’s arrest, I would have to title the article “Sowore’s Stupid Revolution”.

The natural inclination is for most people to forget things and that is why history is an extremely vital aspect of our lives today. We have a lot to learn from history. Nigeria is not a divinely instituted state. The whole geographical contraption that is called Nigeria was put together by the British who also instituted the system of government we run today. The Nigerian people have chosen to remain within this geographical context only because we believe that our staying together is better than our shattering up in pieces. If we would, however, stay together, certain minimums must be in place. One of such is good governance.

Omoyele Sowore and his cohorts, like other Nigerians, have rights within the constitution of the country. They have chosen to exercise those rights to make their views known to all. Sowore left his base in the United States of America and ran a political campaign to be President in 2018. He started sensitizing the Nigerian people of his willingness to run for President a whole six months before political campaigns began. He put his all into the effort. When the nation went to the polls and the votes cast for him and his party were counted, they amounted to a meagre 30,000 plus. Sowore felt that he had been robbed. He felt that the same system that robbed him had also been robbing other Nigerians of their rights to the basic necessities of life. Sowore’s protest, or revolution like he calls it, is NOT stupid. Sowore has only put into action what many of us have in mind.

We should remind ourselves that democracy was not always the system of government in this country. We once had military rule. In fact, at some point in our national life, the military had ruled this country for no less than 75% of our years as an independent state. It was the Nigerian people who fought, tooth and nail, to return the military to the barracks. The likes of Omoyele Sowore led the campaign then. If democracy, as we have it, is not delivering on its promises, it is the same Nigerians that must call for a change. The means to change will come in many names. Sowore has only chosen to call his campaign a revolution. And seeing the manner with which the state is clamping down on a legitimate protest, I wonder whether all of us shouldn’t be joining in this protest.

It has been almost thirty years since my parents visited that immigration office in the United States of America. The four boys my mother sought to find refuge for in America are still in Nigeria battling to survive. Mother died in 2006. Daddy turned seventy July this year. My sisters are all grown up and married, living with their families in the US. My brothers and I are all in our forties now and we have still not gone to America. We have been waging a war of survival here in Nigeria and yet our story is just one of millions in Nigeria; in fact, we would consider ourselves privileged. We are not yet where we hope to be though. If we would get there, it is certain that we would have to make certain sacrifices that young men and women make in order to better their lot in their countries of birth. This is what Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikwe did in the 1940/50s. This is what Beko Ransome-Kuti and Femi Falana did in the 1990s. This is what Omoyele Sowore and all young men in this country must do today. It is young men, with strength, that fight wars for the betterment of their nation. Again, the context of the fight would take many names. Sowore has chosen to call his “Revolution Now” and this revolution is not stupid.

Deji Yesufu is the author of the books Victor Banjo and Half a Millennium. He leads a Reformed Bible Study in the University of Ibadan every Saturday morning.

Source: http://mouthpiece.com.ng/omoyele-sowores-stupid-revolution/

Sowore's quest to make the country ungovernable for a democratically elected government is itself undemocratic.

All the votes he garnered are leas than one the average for a single local government in Nigeria.

Was he expecting for the government to seat back and watch him burn the whole place down?

There's a reason why it is regarded as a stupid revolution.

Without gauging the pulse of a people, he set himself up for failure and capture.

Without guidance, he has undertaken a stupid quest.

Side bar:

I dare that idiot that cancels contributions on this forum to write 3 paragraphs showcasing some reasonable level of formal education

[s]

voltron14:
Sowore's quest to make the country ungovernable for a democratically elected government is itself undemocratic.

All the votes he garnered are leas than one the average for a single local government in Nigeria.

Was he expecting for the government to seat back and watch him burn the whole place down?

There's a reason why it is regarded as a stupid revolution.

Without gauging the pulse of a people, he set himself up for failure and capture.

Without guidance, he has undertaken a stupid quest.

Side bar:

I dare that idiot that cancels contributions on this forum to write 3 paragraphs showcasing some reasonable level of formal education

[/s]

Who are the DSS officers in this picture?

VBCampaign:
Omoyele Sowore’s Stupid Revolution

Stupid revolution? Stupid Revolution somebody calls it erhn? Why specifically does this somebody, call it Omoyele Sowore’s stupid revolution?

VBCampaign:
No people in the world ever did achieve their freedom by goody-goody talk and moral suasion: it being an immutable law that all revolution that will succeed must begin in blood, whatever may answer afterwards – Mark Twain

Nothing in life comes without sweat, blood, tears and guts.

VBCampaign:
Does this story have any relevance to Sowore’s stupid revolution?

No it doesnt tbh.

VBCampaign:
In August 2019, Omoyele Sowore and a host of other youths decided to embark on a nationwide protest which they titled “Revolution Now”. Days before the protest began, Sowore made some utterances, the video recording of which was widely shared on social media. He stated that these were not going to be mere protests; he and his fellows were committed to making the nation ungovernable through their street protests.

Are you able to bring forward admissible evidence of Sowore making utterances to the effect of saying, he and his fellows were committed to making the nation ungovernable through their street protests, hmm?

VBCampaign:
They were seen making graffiti on the walls of public buildings. A day to the commencement of the protest, Sowore was picked up by men of the Department of State Security (DSS). He was in detention for 125 days. After a judge had threatened the DSS with contempt of court, Sowore was released last week Thursday only to be rearrested the following morning. There was outrage from many Nigerians because the DSS sought to arrest him right inside the courtroom.

Haba, seen making graffiti on the walls of public buildings ke. Were are the pictorial evidences of these alleged aerosol spray paint graffiti?

VBCampaign:
The social media went agog. Many people who cared little about the activist’s words in the past felt that the action of the DSS was a desecration of Nigeria’s democracy. A security outfit under the Presidency had invaded another arm of government, the judiciary. In one of the debates that I got into while discussing this matter on social media, a lady described the revolution that Sowore was leading as a "stupid" revolution. I knew immediately that whenever I would express my opinion on Sowore’s arrest, I would have to title the article "Sowore’s Stupid Revolution"

The ones I've come across that have a problem with Sowore and his use of the word revolution are some egbons and brahs in their sixties. There is this eighty year plus old Grandma, I usually discuss Naija politics, the Fulanis, Sowore and all with but I havent being opportuned lately to pay her a visit and listen to what she has to say about Sowore, the "Revolution Now" and his abduction by DSS. One of the brahs, actually told me he wasnt enthusiatic about Sowore's "Revolution Now" because Naija is not ripe and not a place for those kind of things, but he said he is now slowly being sympathetic to Sowore like say 70% because of the way and manner DSS abuse their power and seem to be rough-handling Sowore. The other brah just has a complete disdain for Sowore, saying an armless man was trying to topple a democratically elected government etcetera

VBCampaign:
The natural inclination is for most people to forget things and that is why history is an extremely vital aspect of our lives today. We have a lot to learn from history. Nigeria is not a divinely instituted state. The whole geographical contraption that is called Nigeria was put together by the British who also instituted the system of government we run today. The Nigerian people have chosen to remain within this geographical context only because we believe that our staying together is better than our shattering up in pieces. If we would, however, stay together, certain minimums must be in place. One of such is good governance.

There is nothing wrong with the country Nigeria. Nigeria is an act of providence. God allowed Nigeria to be and be as it is, for a reason. We have let ourselves as a country down. Is it all just for three million to be killed in vain and in a senseless war, hmm? The problem is wickedness, greed, and cluelessness. Have anyone being to the Deltan region, a place supoosedly where the bulk of the wealth of the country comes from and none of the basic infrastructure in place is there. No airport, no sea port, no railways, no motorable ways, no drinking water, no hospital, no school, no light. Smh. What a shame, what a pity and somebody calls the yearnings for a "Revolution Now" stupid. Jesus wept.

VBCampaign:
Omoyele Sowore and his cohorts, like other Nigerians, have rights within the constitution of the country. They have chosen to exercise those rights to make their views known to all. Sowore left his base in the United States of America and ran a political campaign to be President in 2018. He started sensitizing the Nigerian people of his willingness to run for President a whole six months before political campaigns began. He put his all into the effort. When the nation went to the polls and the votes cast for him and his party were counted, they amounted to a meagre 30,000 plus. Sowore felt that he had been robbed. He felt that the same system that robbed him had also been robbing other Nigerians of their rights to the basic necessities of life. Sowore’s protest, or revolution like he calls it, is NOT stupid. Sowore has only put into action what many of us have in mind.

I just knew before starting to read this post that you can be counted on to discuss this subject matter in a cool level headed and reasonable way

VBCampaign:
We should remind ourselves that democracy was not always the system of government in this country. We once had military rule. In fact, at some point in our national life, the military had ruled this country for no less than 75% of our years as an independent state. It was the Nigerian people who fought, tooth and nail, to return the military to the barracks. The likes of Omoyele Sowore led the campaign then. If democracy, as we have it, is not delivering on its promises, it is the same Nigerians that must call for a change. The means to change will come in many names. Sowore has only chosen to call his campaign a revolution. And seeing the manner with which the state is clamping down on a legitimate protest, I wonder whether all of us shouldn’t be joining in this protest.

Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the "Lioness of Lisabi" and mother of "Abami Eda", Fela Anikulapo Kuti another famous activist, was a political campaigner and women's rights activist. One of many of her campaigns, struggles and protests was against arbitrary taxation of women which led to the abdication of the throne by the Alake of Egbaland high king Oba Ademola II in 1949. That is result, lol. Sowore is not doing anything different to what Mama did, without taking up arms, in 1949, so what is the problem of the Presidency, what is the Presidency jittery off.

The word "revolution" with no one batting an eyelid or being alarmed, kept popping up in the speeches read out by both PM Boris Johnson and the Chancellor, Sajid Javid, at the recently concluded 2019 Conservative Party Conference

VBCampaign:
It has been almost thirty years since my parents visited that immigration office in the United States of America. The four boys my mother sought to find refuge for in America are still in Nigeria battling to survive. Mother died in 2006. Daddy turned seventy July this year. My sisters are all grown up and married, living with their families in the US. My brothers and I are all in our forties now and we have still not gone to America. We have been waging a war of survival here in Nigeria and yet our story is just one of millions in Nigeria; in fact, we would consider ourselves privileged. We are not yet where we hope to be though. If we would get there, it is certain that we would have to make certain sacrifices that young men and women make in order to better their lot in their countries of birth. This is what Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikwe did in the 1940/50s. This is what Beko Ransome-Kuti and Femi Falana did in the 1990s. This is what Omoyele Sowore and all young men in this country must do today. It is young men, with strength, that fight wars for the betterment of their nation. Again, the context of the fight would take many names. Sowore has chosen to call his "Revolution Now" and this revolution is not stupid

Gbam. It is an height of illiteracy that makes someone say that Sowore's feeling of an intense longing for "Revolution Now" is stupid. Smh.

Professor Ayodele Awojobi, the first African to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) in Mechanical Engineering at the then Imperial College of Science and Technology, London (now Imperial College London) and well known activist, when asked about any intention ever of entering partisan politics, revealed when he spoke on national television, saying: "At the age of 65, I will have built the infrastructure. There would be very few illiterates in Nigeria when I mount the soapbox. Then, I will go into proper politics"

Tbh, my personal and humble opinion is that Sowore, who is just 48 years old, was made to do something he didnt really want to do or never was interested in doing, and that's like, go into politics. Sowore didnt have to do any of this "Revolution Now" stuff. The man is comfortable, has a good life, has a beautiful and cerebral wife, has two wonderful 9 and 12 years old kids and his widowed mum. This was not a self centred action, it is a public-spirited action concerned more with the needs and wishes of others, calling attention to low standards, mediocrity, political nonentities, analogues operating in a digital age and world, etcetera in high places. It is only an uninterested, unconcerned, subservient, obsequious, acquiescent and complaisant person who will say "Revolution Now" is stupid

voltron14:
Sowore's quest to make the country ungovernable for a democratically elected government is itself undemocratic.

All the votes he garnered are leas than one the average for a single local government in Nigeria.

Was he expecting for the government to seat back and watch him burn the whole place down?

There's a reason why it is regarded as a stupid revolution.

Without gauging the pulse of a people, he set himself up for failure and capture.

Without guidance, he has undertaken a stupid quest.

Side bar:

I dare that idiot that cancels contributions on this forum to write 3 paragraphs showcasing some reasonable level of formal education

Are you not talking of votes that were allocated, same and similar way done in the just concluded Kogi?

Everfrank:
Who are the DSS officers in this picture?

Those guys in OPs picture are Sowore's activist colleagues or comrades protecting him from the DSS operatives

Everfrank, I have been watching closely and have noticed this young man from DSS, way back from the beginning of this whole case and when Sowore was returned back to detention after the first bail refusal, there is this man, in blue suit then, he was the guy blocking Sowore and trying to prevent Sowore from making a press conference, he is the same guy again, now in black suit, who was trying to rearrest Sowore on that day in court

Everfrank, circled in black and with the red arrow pointing at him below, is the DSS young man I mentioned above. I can give you the YouTube link showing him rising from the floor and grappling with Sowore's friends who were telling him to back off and leave Sowore alone. There are other pictures in the past showing him always standing guardedly close to Sowore, following him about and watching Sowore's every movement as if like a hawk

inyarinyaZibya:
[s][/s]

MUMU.

MuttleyLaff:
Are you not talking of votes that were allocated, same and similar way done in the just concluded Kogi?

So Sowore obtained more than 30k votes?

Why did he not go through the democratic channel of the Law Courts?

[s]

voltron14:


So Sowore obtained more than 30k votes?

Why did he not go through the democratic channel of the Law Courts?

[/s]

voltron14:
So Sowore obtained more than 30k votes?
Why did he not go through the democratic channel of the Law Courts?

[img]https://s3/images/MuttleyManicalHilarious.gif[/img]
You made me maniacally laugh and wet my pants. This is Nigeria, lol.

Good piece

MuttleyLaff:
[img]https://s3/images/MuttleyManicalHilarious.gif[/img]
You made me maniacally laugh and wet my pants. This is Nigeria, lol.

I take it he doesn't trust the courts?

But today he has a counsel in the person of Femi Falana representing him in the same court of Law.

[s]

voltron14:


I take it he doesn't trust the courts?

But today he has a counsel in the person of Femi Falana representing him in the same court of Law.

[/s]

voltron14:
I take it he doesn't trust the courts?

Courts? lol You mean the same courts DSS that with impunity walk all over and/or trample on, lol.

voltron14:
But today he has a counsel in the person of Femi Falana representing him in the same court of Law.

I am sure you'll agree that Femi Falana SAN, father of Falz the artist/lawyer who sang "This is Ngeria" has his work cut out and you do already have been wishing him luck in trying to get Sowore released from the lion's mouth and death hold grip, lol

MuttleyLaff:
Courts? lol You mean the same courts DSS that with impunity walk all over and/or trample on, lol.

I am sure you'll agree that Femi Falana SAN, father of Falz the artist/lawyer who sang "This is Ngeria" has his work cut out and you do already have been wishing him luck in trying to get Sowore released from the lion's mouth and death hold grip, lol

If Sowore doesn't believe in democracy and its inherent separation of powers, isn't it Ironic he expects the executive to treat him with kidsglove following the tenets of the very democracy he doesn't believe in?

[s]

voltron14:


If Sowore doesn't believe in democracy and its inherent separation of powers, isn't it Ironic he expects the executive to treat him with kidsglove following the tenets of the very democracy he doesn't believe in?

[/s]

voltron14:
If Sowore doesn't believe in democracy and its inherent separation of powers, isn't it Ironic he expects the executive to treat him with kidsglove following the tenets of the very democracy he doesn't believe in?

Why are you so hellbent on keeping me laughing tonight, hmm, lol?

Of course Sowore believes in democracy and its inherent separation of powers, but what Sowore is not in support of is bad governance, mediocrity, abuse of executive power, case in point Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Sheikh Ibrahim El-zakzaky, just to name those two only, analogue minds, cluelessness, slow coachiness etcetera

IS HE RELATED TO AISHA YESUFU

MuttleyLaff:
Why are you so hellbent on keeping me laughing tonight, hmm, lol?

Of course Sowore believes in democracy and its inherent separation of powers, but what Sowore is not in support of is bad governance, mediocrity, abuse of executive power, case in point Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Sheikh Ibrahim El-zakzaky, analogue minds, cluelessness, slow coachiness etcetera

El Zakzaky once had his children killed by another democratically elected president. Of course, that didn't matter at the time because it didnt suit a narrative.

It is well known that successive governments have had to tread softly with a man who was operating another country within the country.

Dasuki is considered a security risk to the country and no court order would work in his case.

As tough as it may sound, it's the way the tower leans.

The Nigerian way makes it difficult for any with a clear head to undertake clear cut objectives because usurpers come out of the woodwork daily.

Sowore decided to play the hand of a usurper, the price for which he pays.

inyarinyaZibya:
[s][/s]

Inyamurin you never tire to dey cancel ni?

[s]

zibya:
Inyamurin you never tire to dey cancel ni?

[/s]
abokii are you through with gate?

[s]

voltron14:


El Zakzaky once had his children killed by another democratically elected president. Of course, that didn't matter at the time because it didnt suit a narrative.

It is well known that successive governments have had to tread softly with a man who was operating another country within the country.

Dasuki is considered a security risk to the country and no court order would work in his case.

As tough as it may sound, it's the way the tower leans.

The Nigerian way makes it difficult for any with a clear head to undertake clear cut objectives because usurpers come out of the woodwork daily.

Sowore decided to play the hand of a usurper, the price for which he pays.

[/s]

voltron14:
I dare that idiot that cancels contributions on this forum to write 3 paragraphs showcasing some reasonable level of formal education

zibya:
Inyamurin you never tire to dey cancel ni?

inyarinyaZibya:
abokii are you through with gate?

You guys are all funny jor, lol

voltron14:
El Zakzaky once had his children killed by another democratically elected president. Of course, that didn't matter at the time because it didnt suit a narrative.

It is well known that successive governments have had to tread softly with a man who was operating another country within the country.

Dasuki is considered a security risk to the country and no court order would work in his case.

As tough as it may sound, it's the way the tower leans.

El Zakzaky hmm, hmmm. Dasuki lol, personal vendetta slash karma remembered his address, lol

voltron14:
The Nigerian way makes it difficult for any with a clear head to undertake clear cut objectives because usurpers come out of the woodwork daily.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Sowore unlike the usurper(s) to the throne(s) is a good man

voltron14:
Sowore decided to play the hand of a usurper, the price for which he pays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7TvpL3e3ls
A price he knew about and was ready to pay. Check out my "Free Sowore Now" Profile for a Sowore excerpt message from above video.

voltron14:
Sowore's quest to make the country ungovernable for a democratically elected government is itself undemocratic.

All the votes he garnered are leas than one the average for a single local government in Nigeria.

Was he expecting for the government to seat back and watch him burn the whole place down?

There's a reason why it is regarded as a stupid revolution.

Without gauging the pulse of a people, he set himself up for failure and capture.

Without guidance, he has undertaken a stupid quest.

Side bar:

I dare that idiot that cancels contributions on this forum to write 3 paragraphs showcasing some reasonable level of formal education

Buhari equally called for revolution during Jonathan, why wasn't he roughed?

MasterKernel:



Buhari equally called for revolution during Jonathan, why wasn't he roughed?

Please if you want to trade rumours don't quote me.

I don't do exchanges concerning beer parlour conversations.

[s]

voltron14:


Please if you want to trade rumours don't quote me.

I don't do exchanges concerning beer parlour conversations.

[/s]

voltron14:


Please if you want to trade rumours don't quote me.

I don't do exchanges concerning beer parlour conversations.

Oooh! You don't trade rumors?


https://www.thecable.ng/flashback-in-2011-general-buhari-called-for-a-revolution

inyarinyaZibya:
[s][/s]
abokii are you through with gate?

Shege Inyamurin