2023: Sowore joins presidential race, says it is time for total freedom

Ilesanmi AdekanbiMarch 1, 2022

3 minutes read

The Sahara Reporters founder, Omoyele Sowore, has declared his intention to run for president in 2023.

Sowore announced his presidential ambition on Tuesday at an event held in Abuja.

He also shared a campaign banner and an official Twitter handle tagged ‘Omoyele Sowore 2023’.

The activist is joining the presidential race for the second time after the first attempt in 2019.

He contested on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 presidential election.

“This is the official Twitter handle of the Sowore 2023 campaign. The official declaration of the real alternative to the status quo is about to be declared. The time for total freedom is now,” the tweet reads.

This is the official Twitter handle for the Sowore 2023 campaign. The official declaration of the real alternative to the status quo is about to be declared. The time for total freedom is Now! @YeleSowore #SoworeDeclares pic.twitter.com/FARWmC7YS6

— #SoworeMagashi2023 (@sowore2023) March 1, 2022

Sowore, while making the declaration in Abuja on Tuesday, said that he would run a socialist government focusing on workers’ welfare, free education, job creation, and pension reforms.

He also disclosed that one of his plans would be to create a new Constitution for the country and release detained leaders of the various movements agitating for self-determination, particularly Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (Indigenous People of Biafra) and Sunday Igboho (Yoruba Nation Group) if he clinches the top job.

Sowore said, “Nigerian workers, a living wage is coming your way. What I am saying to you is that an N100,000 monthly minimum wage is too small (for Nigerian workers today). Nigerian students, help is coming your way because we will give you free and qualitative education with bursary, grants, and scholarships. To the unemployed young people of Nigeria, I can only promise you one thing – jobs. I am also going to reform the pension system.

“For those who are pushing the struggle for self-determination, we will accord you the opportunity you are seeking by creating a new Constitution for Nigeria, which must necessarily contain the right to self-determination and the right to a referendum if you are tired of Nigeria.

“As soon as I am sworn-in on May 29, 2023, I will release all political detainees, particularly (Nnamdi) Kanu and Sunday Igboho. People who are asking for self-determination should not go to prison. Those in the Diaspora must also be given the right to vote during the election.”

He argued that what Nigeria needed was a new crop of leaders to turn the fortunes of the country around for the better.

Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, expressed pessimism that Nigeria may not win the war against terrorism without improving the welfare and working conditions of the troops.

Newsflash Nigeria had reported in August 2019 that the activist was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged plans to lead a nationwide protest.

The activist was, thereafter, restricted to the federal capital territory (FCT) by a court order issued in 2019.

On February 24, Sowore was also arrested by the police in Abuja after attending a court sitting on the current leadership crisis in his party.

He was said to have been detained for several hours at the office of the defunct special anti-robbery squad (SARS) unit of the police in Abuja, over a petition filed against him by Ned Nwoko, a former member of the House of Representatives.

On Monday, Sowore instituted a suit against Nwoko at a Federal High Court in Abuja over his recent arrest.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), inspector-general of police (IGP), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) commissioner of police, and Nwoko are the first to fourth respondents, respectively.

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Among the reliefs sought, Sowore is also asking for an order of the court “mandating the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents to issue an apology to the applicant, to be published in two reputable national daily newspapers for the violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights as afore-stated”.

He is also asking the court for an order “directing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents jointly and severally, to pay to the applicant, the sum of N200,000,000 only, as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights as afore-stated”.

Meanwhile, the development came days after Nwoko, via his Instagram page, dismissed rumours of marrying a new wife.

The former lawmaker had said such rumour was peddled by a group of “little-minded faceless individuals”, adding that he would report the matter to the police for appropriate action.