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The Coalition of Pro-Democracy Groups for a Better Nigeria has accused the publisher of Sahara Reporters and one of the leaders of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests, Omoyele Sowore, of planning a coup to topple the government of President Bola Tinubu.
A statement by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Comrade Awa Bamiji, said Sowore calling for a nationwide shutdown and advising Nigerians to stockpile foodstuffs indicated that he was planning a coup with other disgruntled elements.
“The real meaning of #10DaysofRage or #RevolutionNow protests he had long been advocating is to topple the government. Unlike millions of his innocent followers, he hurriedly travelled out of the country few days to the commencement of the #TinubuMustGo, #EndBadGovernance protests, which commenced last Thursday with chaos, mass looting, killings and burning of public and private properties.
“The ultimate intention was to invite the ‘Russia sponsored’ military takeover in Nigeria, just like it happened in Republic of Niger, Mali and Bukina Faso.
“They violated earlier court orders restricting them to designated locations in order to avoid street procession that always lead to this kind of abnormal situation anywhere in the world.
“Sowore advised Nigerian workers and transporters to stay away from work as from today and join the protests, with the aim of raising N40.1 billion from local and foreign donations. This means calling off the protests will close down his ongoing online business.
“Protest or not, the legal procedure is that anybody that perpetrated criminal activities in our community must be arrested by law enforcement agencies and prosecuted in the court of law. Therefore, we can’t expect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to order the immediate release of those arrested without the police conducting a thorough investigation,” he said.
Awa commiserated with the families, friends and associates of people that lost their lives in the protests, and wished those injured quick recovery.
“We appreciate the president for answering our collective call for his intervention by addressing the nation as well as the delivery of a beautiful speech at the most needed period in our political history
“Majority of us expected him to bring down the pump price of fuel, but he said removal of fuel subsidy was a painful decision he took last year, which was necessary, because it came as a lifeline.
“We must remember that both the PDP and LP presidential candidates also promised to remove fuel subsidy, if they were lucky to be elected as president,” Awa added.
