‘Winner is democracy,’ Presidency declares as state agents clamp down on protesters

Presidency on Monday stated that democracy is the winner in
Nigeria.

The declaration came on Monday evening as security agents
crippled the #RevolutionNow protests spearheaded by the
presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the
February 2019 General Election, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore, who also publishes the online Sahara Reporters, had
called for nationwide protests tagged #RevolutionNow and scheduled
for Monday (today) to protest bad governance.

Sowore was picked up in the early hours of Saturday by
operatives of the Department of State Services and is being held
incommunicado.

Security agents comprising variously of soldiers, Police and
Operatives of the OP MESA, a joint Internal Security Operational
platform made up of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, also took
to the flash points in various states of the federation and
prevented the #RevolutionNow protest from holding.

In states such as Lagos, Osun and Cross River, protesters were
tear-gassed and journalists arrested and taken to unknown
places.

Again, security agents in Lagos State not only doused protesters
in tear gas, they also shot into air to scare people off.

In reaction, the Presidency gave “democracy” thumbs up, saying,
“The winner is democracy in Nigeria!”

Taking to his Facebook wall on Monday evening, Senior Special
Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi
Adesina, had posted a Press release signed by his counterpart,
Shehu Garba, titled “The Winner Is Democracy In Nigeria!”

The social media release states, “Today, millions of Nigerians
went about their businesses: work, seeking employment, attending
schools/colleges and caring for their families. By doing so, the
millions defended our country’s hard-won democratic rights – by
ignoring calls on social media to join a phantom ‘revolution’.

“There were a few hundred persons today who, for their own
reasons, decided to act upon the demands of a group calling itself
Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, which went
on social media to ask everyday Nigerians to overthrow the
government they only elected some six months ago.

“The President is humbled by the support – not for himself, or
the governing party – but for the democratic values of modern-day
Nigeria through the wisdom of those millions of citizens who
preferred democracy and decided not to undermine an elected
government.

“Today, joining those millions of Nigerians was not only the
President and governing party at Federal level, but many state
governments from the opposition, trade unions, civil society
organisations, media and NGOs with focus on freedom of speech. All
have, rightly, united in protecting Nigeria’s young democracy and
the rights of all to elect leaders and lawmakers.

“The Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’s
attempt to incite citizens into a revolution against their own
democratic rights and interests has failed – as will all attempts
to take away from the people their hard-won rights and freedom to
choose who leads their country.’’