Senior lawyers on Monday expressed divergent views on the arrest of former presidential aspirant Omoyele Sowore over the #RevolutionNow protests.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Okutepa said the 1999 Constitution does not recognise revolution in any form. But, another SAN, Seyi Sowemimo, said everyone has the right to a peaceful protest.
A senior lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, described the crackdown on protesters as a knee-jerk reaction by the government.
He said no government can be overthrown by mere words, adding that Sowore’s arrest was uncalled for except there is evidence to the contrary.
This is as the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) called for Sowore’s release.
Okutepa said Section 1 (2) of the Constitution does not recognise any revolution other than through democratic process permitted by law.
“I have read some comments from prominent Nigerians who have expressed the views that calling for revolutionary change of government other than through democratic means comes within the purview of fundamental rights.
“Nothing can be further from the truth than these s fallacious, self-destructive and defeating arguments.
”First, while I concede that demonstration is part of the constitutional rights of expression, calling for revolution for change of government in democratic set up is not part of the freedom guaranteed by the constitution. That is why Section 1(2) of the Constitution does not support that position,” the SAN said.
Okutepa warned gullible citizens from being misled into believing that calling for revolutionary change of government is part of the fundamental rights.
Besides, he noted that there are no rights without limitations.
“Some Nigerians seems to be encouraging all manners of subversive and destructive freedoms out of partisan political bitterness and hatred. Nigerians do not need revolution in the form of bloodletting.
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“Those who encourage street revolution are far removed from those who will pay the Supreme prices for the so-called revolution to overwhelm government.
“While life is tough in Nigeria, we cannot make it tougher by calling for revolution through illegitimate means of changing government.
“I support any programme that will educate Nigerians to freely change bad government. No doubt we have bad government but the methods to change the government must not be through violence change of power.
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