CIVIL ASSOCIATIONS PLEAD FOR THE RELEASE OF SOWORE


SAMUEL MELODY FLOURISH

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and 49 other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have called on the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) to intervene to secure the immediate release of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore, a journalist and human rights activist, was arrested on 3rd August, 2019, after calling for #RevolutionNow protest.

Mr. Ayode Longe, MRA Programme Director said: “It is antithetical to the tenets of democracy to arrest a man who was merely exercising his constitutional right of assembly, association and expression and the height of impunity to continue to detain him even after a court of competent jurisdiction has granted him bail. The DSS must immediately and unconditionally release Sowore.” 
Commenting on the charges, Nwachukwu Egbunike of Global Voices said: “Omoloye Sowore’s continued detention and the charges of treason affirm our position that this trial is merely a criminalization of political dissent.”

“We call on the Nigerian government to honour its own laws and the international treaties it is a signatory to. Sowore should be unconditionally released.”

The hold of Sowore in jail till present isn't looking good for Nigeria. This is bringing mockery both nationally and internationally. It seems many rights of the citizens are nothing but paper tigers to the Nigerian government.


The Nigerian government must act fast and with a candlelight hope that help from foreign organizations will salvage this issue.

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