Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has announced a new coalition aimed at supporting the victims of the #EndBadGovernance protests. During an X Space discussion titled “#EndBadGovernance in Nigeria Protest: What Next?”, Sowore revealed that the Take-It-Back movement, in collaboration with Amnesty International Nigeria and other advocacy groups, is working tirelessly to seek justice for those who were killed, injured, or detained during the protests.
Sowore emphasized the need to hold those responsible for the violence accountable. He pointed out the role of the Inspector General of Police, stating, “We know who caused the injuries, deaths, and tear-gassing; it’s the Inspector General of Police. All victims must get justice.”
He reflected on the 1993 elections when Abiola’s victory was annulled and the subsequent fight against the military until they left power. He drew parallels to his personal experience when he was arrested in 2019 on false charges. “They accused me of having money in my account, took me to court, but couldn’t provide any evidence. They withdrew the charges after failing to link me with corruption,” he said.
Sowore highlighted the presence of Take-It-Back representatives in states like Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Yobe, and Jigawa. He also recounted the group’s attempts to involve the police before the protests, noting that senior lawyers met with the Inspector General of Police to share details of the planned protests. Despite these efforts, the government, particularly the ruling APC, sought to frame the protests as a regime change agenda by introducing disruptive elements.
He explained how the Kano state government interacted with peaceful protesters, who took steps to inform the police about their plans. Yet, the authorities pre-emptively arrested protest leaders in Kano and Kaduna, labeling them as threats. Sowore mentioned how media outlets like VOA and BBC Hausa helped secure their release.
Sowore described the protest as being organized on a shoestring budget, with leaders and groups across the country needing constant support. Despite the challenges, he stressed the importance of planning and leadership in such movements. “We’re conducting a post-mortem of the protest and working with Amnesty International and other groups, including lawyers, to document everything so we can hold the government accountable,” he stated.
In Abuja and Lagos, Sowore recounted how police used thugs to attack protesters and journalists. He called for labor unions and interest groups to step up and protect journalists who were attacked during the protests. He criticized the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) for issuing weak statements and praised international organizations for showing more concern for Nigerian journalists.
Regarding those detained, Sowore announced that lawyers in Kano would begin appealing on Monday to secure their release. He condemned the summary trials that led to over 1,000 people being jailed in Kano through a mobile court process.
Sowore also mentioned comrades, including an elderly woman, detained by the National Security Adviser’s office in Abuja. He urged supporters to show up in Abuja on Monday to support the legal efforts to secure their release.
Sowore insisted that the police officers and agents responsible for the violence must be prosecuted, and the families of the deceased compensated. “No one will be left behind in our demands. We’re committed to getting all detained protesters released,” he said.
He warned that psychological oppression is being used to demobilize people through fear, but urged Nigerians not to fall for it. He recounted how people even abroad feared being arrested upon returning to Nigeria due to their association with him.
Sowore also touched on the government’s attempts to freeze cryptocurrency wallets, only to discover that many had no funds in them. He criticized judges for freezing accounts without verifying their existence.
The federal government, Sowore argued, is frustrated and struggling financially. He dismissed rumors that protest leaders had access to vast sums of money, pointing out that the government is so desperate that it is borrowing from China and confiscating Nigerian assets worldwide.
Sowore explained that the protests were difficult to stop because there were no clear leaders the government could target. He accused the Kano state government of sponsoring people to discredit the protests by waving flags and calling for a military takeover.
He concluded by cautioning against demonizing civil society organizations but urged people to be wary of those who claim to support protests but don’t participate. Sowore praised the bravery of those who continued protesting despite the violence, especially in the north, and called for continued resistance against oppression.
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