Send Obasanjo Who’s Trying To Broker Peace Back To Nigeria; He’s Never Been Part Of Anything Good : Sowore to Kenyans
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday night, Sowore expressed his distrust of Obasanjo’s intentions, stating that the former president has never been associated with any positive outcomes in his life.
Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, has issued a warning to Kenyans regarding the involvement of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in brokering peace in their country.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday night, Sowore expressed his distrust of Obasanjo’s intentions, stating that the former president has never been associated with any positive outcomes in his life.
He implied that Obasanjo’s interference in Kenya’s affairs would not be beneficial and suggested that he should be sent back to Nigeria.
He wrote, “I hope our Kenyan brothers and sisters understand that ‘Chief’ Olusegun Obasanjo, who is trying to ‘broker peace’ in Kenya, has never been part of anything good in his life. The former Nigerian President should be put inside the next departing aircraft from Kenya.
“Otherwise, you would watch your revolutionary gains vanish like the Nigerian treasury under his watch. Please stay away from OBJ, Kenyans. #RevolutionNoworNever #RutoMustGo #EndBadGovernance #DaysOfRage.”
https://x.com/YeleSowore/status/1814787610797117767
Sowore recently unveiled a list of 15 critical demands from Nigerians as part of the upcoming ‘Days of Rage’ protest.
The protest, tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, aims to address the country’s governance challenges.
According to Sowore, the demands were compiled from inputs received from Nigerians participating in the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign.
The demands are directed at President Bola Tinubu’s administration and are considered non-negotiable by the protesters.
The ‘Days of Rage’ protests, scheduled for late July to August 2024, have been preceded by the demands published by Sowore on his X account.
The demands, from Nigerians, include a call for the President Tinubu administration to “Scrap the 1999 Constitution and replace it with a People-made.”
Other demands include: “Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a Sovereign National Conference immediately followed by a National Referendum.
“Toss the Senate arm of the Nigerian Legislative System, keep the House of Representatives (HOR), and make lawmaking a part-time endeavour.
“Pay Nigerian Workers a minimum wage of nothing less than N250,000 monthly.
“Invest heavily in education and give Nigerian students grants, not loans. Aggressively pursue free and compulsory education for children across Nigeria.
“Release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally and demilitarize the South East. ALL #ENDSARS and political detainees must also be released and could compensated.”
Despite President William Ruto’s concession to scrap the planned $2.7 billion tax hikes, Kenyan activists remain resolute in their demands for change.
They have threatened a nationwide “total shutdown” in response to years of stagnant wages and rampant corruption, which many believe has reached an all-time high. Some Kenyans have noted that the tax plan was merely the catalyst that sparked the protests, which began peacefully last month but quickly escalated into violence.
The demonstrations have resulted in significant bloodshed, with at least 50 people killed, as reported by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
The commission has also alleged excessive use of force by police, with 59 individuals abducted or missing and 628 others arbitrarily detained. The situation remains tense, with activists vowing to continue their push for meaningful reform.
In a bid to quell the earlier protests, President Ruto took measures to address the unrest, including scrapping the planned tax increase on June 26 and dismissing a significant portion of his cabinet.
Additionally, he announced plans for “multi-sectoral” talks to engage with protesters and address their concerns.
However, his efforts to initiate dialogue have been met with skepticism, as many prominent activists have declined his invitation, insisting on tangible action to tackle pressing issues like corruption rather than mere talks.
Earlier in July, during an interview on Citizen TV’s ‘JKLive’ show in Kenya, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo weighed in on the ongoing anti-government protests in Kenya, attributing the unrest to the youthful population’s growing anger and frustration with poor governance.
Obasanjo noted that young people across Kenya and the African continent are facing similar challenges, including rampant unemployment, poverty, and a sense of hopelessness.
He cautioned that if leaders fail to address the pressing issues, a revolution may be imminent, likening the situation to a ticking time bomb ready to explode. Obasanjo’s comments underscore the urgent need for leaders to prioritize the needs and concerns of the youth, lest they face the consequences of their inaction.
He said, “They are unemployed, underpowered and see nothing other than hopelessness. In a situation like that, what you have from frustrated youth is anger and they have no hope. If you want to kill any human being, take hope and cut away his life, that is what is happening.”
“All of Africa, we are all sitting on the keg of gunpowder because of the youth, and there is virtually no excuse in Africa why the youth are not angry,” he added.
