December 1, 2019

The Premium Times (PT), a Nigerian news site tries an old trick to rescue Sowore. The aim is to try to minimize the political damage Sowore may suffer due to his long detention despite court order. The way Premium Times seeks to achieve this is to spread false narrative or stories about how the President of Nigeria is trying to negotiate with Sowore. It is not impossible that the government may want to negotiate with Sowore. But when you look at the details of the story told by Premium Times, you will immediately understand that it doesn't make sense. Part of Premium Times story reads: "Rather than direct immediate compliance with a federal court order that freed Omoyele Sowore on bail, President Muhammadu Buhari has instead been sending emissaries to the activist to extract commitment from him to back down on the ‘revolution now’ protest as a precondition for his release. "In at least two attempts now confirmed by PREMIUM TIMES, the president’s emissaries visited Mr. Sowore where he is being illegally held at the State Security Service Headquarters to “negotiate for peace” in return for his freedom. "The Sahara Reporters’ publisher, however, rejected both attempts as extra-judicial and self-serving, saying he would not take part in any arrangement that would essentially lend legitimacy to unwarranted abuse of his fundamental rights and brazen disregard of judicial authority, people briefed on the matter told PREMIUM TIMES. "The development appeared the strongest indication yet that Mr. Buhari is aware of the continued detention of Mr. Sowore in defiance of multiple court orders. "Those who took part in the botched negotiation included Isa Funtua, a close political associate of the president; Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard Newspapers; Nduka Ogbaigbena, publisher of Thisday Newspapers and presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu." The above story CANNOT be true. That is not how they operate, even when they need to do it. First, when PT says it confirmed the story, how did it confirm it? Nobody in such meeting, other than Sowore, will speak about such a meeting and place the mission in such poor light. And Sowore's account cannot be a confirmation because it will be self serving. Second, when in DSS custody, you (particularly Sowore) will not be allowed to speak with even his lawyer without DSS officers listening. And they would not allow such topic to be discussed. Third, Sowore is represented by a very vocal and influential lawyer, Falana. That such discussion was held and concluded without Sowore inviting his lawyer or requesting for him to be present is evidence that such discussion did not occur. Fourth, there is an extra effort to place the President in the alleged negotiation. Normally, any such effort will take the DSS director putting the terms to Sowore directly there and then for him to consider. There would be no need for the large delegation. Fifth, anybody familiar with Buhari's team knows that Adesina and Garba don't team up on any mission. So, involving both of them in the meeting and negotiation is unusual. Sixth, if ever such a meeting were to occur, the delegation will not admit that they were sent by the president. They will suggest that they came on their own to broker peace. To drop the name of the President in such a fashion is too amateur  and it risks causing the president to lose face should Sowore turn it down. The normal procedure would have been for these men to offer to help Sowore on certain conditions, even if they are working on the prompting of the President. Seventh, Sowore does not have much of a bargaining chip now. Nobody believes he is capable of causing any revolution now. Indeed, even if released, his bail conditions forbid him from trying such and if released, he will be closely monitored by the DSS. So, there cannot be any fear that he would lead a revolution if released. Eighth, if Sowore was secretly offered his freedom on the condition that he not lead a revolution, something he already knows he cannot do, he will be foolish to turn it down. So, that negotiation did not happen. Ninth, it is possible that the publisher of ThisDay and Vanguard went to see Sowore. They would do this in their own interest to earn the bragging right to claim one day that they played some role. And if those men claim to be representing the President, they are joking. Tenth, there is no doubt that the government blundered in the manner they handled Sowore's case. Indeed, they harmed Nigeria and shot themselves on the foot. But they did it on purpose because they don't care about the international community or any pressures. There is actually no pressure on Sowore's case when compared with the cases of Dasuki and El-Zakzaki. So, releasing Sowore will not be significant enough measure to improve Nigeria's human rights record. PT is peddling this rumor because it has been in alliance with Sahara Reporters to help each other. It is clear that Sowore's detention makes it harder for him to operate Sahara Reporters as he used to. And the site will suffer a steady decline. There is need to change the narrative and make it look as if freedom was offered to Sowore, but he refused on principle. Why then would Premium Times be spreading this?