‎ACN knocks planned protest by Sowore, divisive anti-democratic forces must be stopped, says enough is enough

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‎The ongoing campaign of division, blackmail, distraction, disharmony, and anarchy against the Nigerian government, especially the one being spearheaded by Omoleye Sowore, as well as by some characters and agents of destabilization trying to cause a breakdown of law and order in our country, is a cause for concern in our nascent democracy.
This campaign of calumny, distraction, politics of hate, bitterness, and outrageous intent to precipitate crisis in our dear country must be resisted by democracy-loving Nigerians and forces.
This was contained in a statement by Comrade Gbenga Ashiru Abiodun, National Coordinator and Comrade Yakubu Abdullahi, General Secretary of Amalgamated Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (ACN).

‎In memory of the late Comrade Abiodun Aremu, ACN have resolved not to participate in the planned protest being organized by a known blackmailer and insurrectionist, Sowore, using the name of Nnamdi Kanu as a cheap political cover to unleash mayhem and anarchist tendencies against state institutions, including the National Assembly, National Ecumenical Centre, National Mosque, security formations like Kuje prison, and the courts of the land.

‎According to the statement, available intelligence reveals that Sowore, his criminal elements, and his gangs of rogue politicians are planning to burn down major markets in Abuja, train stations, airports, and other critical national infrastructure and assets in a calculated plot to cause violence, breakdown of law and order, and precipitate ethno-religious crisis in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

‎”We have resolved to urgently alert relevant security and intelligence agencies to nip Sowore’s plot in the bud to curtail the planned insurrection and mayhem that may result from it. Enough is enough of this blackmailer’s shenanigans!,” it stated.

‎In any civilized world, ACN noted, Sowore would have lost all moral justification to stage a violent protest while undergoing prosecution before relevant courts of competent jurisdiction for a series of incitement and questionable cybercrime-related cases in Nigeria.

‎”Yet, his sponsors have closed their eyes to the dangers posed and associated with such an ugly and destructive plot to thwart the gains of democracy dividends so far achieved all these years, just for the mesh of porridge and self-serving ordinate ambitions and aggrandizement,” ACN stressed.

‎The association pointed out that”How can someone who is a known blackmailer in the country with no character or moral rectitude be threatening government institutions, state apparatus, and other law-abiding citizens going about their lawful businesses in a country guided by the rule of law?

‎”How can someone who burnt down Bode Thomas police station, Surulere, Lagos, and the powers that be protected him, now say he wants to fight for an individual facing terrorism charges before a competent court of jurisdiction?

‎”Sowore is also part of the system that has brought Nigeria to its knees, as he was instrumental in fighting on the side of politicians against the hardworking people all these years. He has a moral burden hanging on his neck for his past accelerated lawlessness against the country and shouldn’t be allowed to carry out this calculated mischief and clandestine plots orchestrated to cause the breakdown of law and order, disaffection, disharmony, and the retrogression of the gains of democracy enjoyed all these years,” the body said.

‎”We also know that he is being sponsored by foreign powers and sundry agents of destabilization to bring the country down to its knees. We have information that he collected humongous funds from opposition political parties, politically exposed persons, and wants to bring the government down for selfish and satanic political objectives,” the statement noted.

‎The body said Sowore is a non-state actor, being used by anti-democratic elements for spreading divisive campaigns of bitterness and framing narratives against this administration, including those who rejected his subtle blackmail for material gains.

‎”Sowore is a security risk to the democracy we are enjoying today, as he is planning insurrection against the administration, working in cahoots with the same man who promised to make Nigeria ungovernable in 2011,” ACN stressed.

‎The body said, to date, Nigeria continues to fumble and wobble with the virus of ungovernability sustained by bandits, terrorists, and their known sponsors.

‎”It does appear, perhaps pretentiously, that the sponsors of our country’s state of ungovernability over the years are now trying to use the name of Nnamdi Kanu for their political ends, to shower their credibility crisis and gain legitimacy.

‎”The forthcoming protest being teleguided by agents of darkness, ungovernability, and their associates is self-serving and a subterranean scheme to set the country on fire along sectarian fault lines, ethnic and religious cleavages.

‎”The entire plot is aimed at setting ordinary citizens along ethno-religious divides, thereby undermining the economic perspectives and developmental objectives of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

‎”We urge all peace-loving citizens desirous of genuine freedom for Nnamdi Kanu to use the instrument of dialogue in pursuance of such a goal. The matter is already in court, and only negotiation and out-of-court settlement can guarantee his freedom.

‎”Prominent leaders from the South East zone are working assiduously towards an amicable resolution of the matter. We are aware that President Tinubu is working on reconciliation and resolving the matter with critical stakeholders from the region.

‎”We hereby wish to make it abundantly clear to the relevant security agencies and intelligence, especially the NSA, DSS, Nigeria Police, and DIA, to quickly intervene in this matter to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

‎”We shall institute a legal framework restraining these divisive spent forces and renegade elements from staging further mischief and lawless behavior aimed at causing uproar, mayhem, and destruction in Abuja and elsewhere.

‎”The spread of fake news and sponsored disinformation by Sowore to subvert the people is very dangerous! Hence, we shall mobilize thousands of democracy-loving Nigerians to confront Sowore anywhere he is seen in Abuja forthwith.

‎”We hereby declare Sowore a persona non grata anywhere he is sighted in Abuja. We have assembled a team of citizen volunteers across ethnic and religious divides to enforce this resolution stated above with everything invented for the purpose of defending our cherished democracy and tackling invaders and premeditated rogue agents in order to douse tension in the polity,” the statement stressed.