President Buhari to Sowore- ‘Elections, not revolution, the days of coups and revolutions are over’

President Buhari has asked Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore and others planning to a stage a ”revolution march” in Abuja and other parts of the nation today Monday, August 5th, to shelve their plans as an election is more appropriate for a change of government and not a ”revolution” as they have proposed. 

A statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Buhari respects and upholds the right of every Nigerian to peaceful protest and civil campaign but stressed that there is a difference between peaceful call to protest and incitement for a revolution. 

The statement added that the ballot box is the only legitimate route for a decent change of government as the days of coups and revolution are over. 

”The organisation championing this planned action is not fronted by any serious public faces. We call on the sponsors and organisers to have the decency to come forward and make their identity known – out of respect to all Nigerians – so that Nigerians can be fully aware in whose name this “revolution” is being proposed and who the beneficiaries may be.

Less than six months ago, Nigeria held simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections. Both contests were won resoundingly by President Muhammadu Buhari and his All-Progressives Congress party. The campaign was observed, and results were confirmed by international election monitoring groups and observers. The result was even contested by the losing presidential candidate and his party in Court.

The ballot box is the only constitutional means of changing government and a president in Nigeria. The days of coups and revolutions are over.

Those making the “revolution’’ call hide behind the veil of social media modernity. But without revealing the identity of their sponsors this shadowy campaign is no better, and no more democratic, than the days of old” the statement

President Buhari in the statement called on all those who seek to use and hide behind everyday citizens to attain power through undemocratic and violent means, which has been alluded, to come out clearly and be identified. They should lead their march in person. Only then will they begin to have the right to call themselves leaders before the people of Nigeria.

The Inspector General of Police of Police, Adamu Mohammed, in a statement released on Saturday August 3rd, says anyone that participates in the ”revolution march” and is arrested will be treated as someone that has committed a treasonable felony.