Those who specialize in reading President Muhammadu Buhari’s body language have posited that he doesn’t seem to be bothered about the detention of Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the last presidential election. Sowore is being held by the Department of State Security, sequel to his “RevolutionNow” call.
While some see the call for revolution as what Nigeria needs, others have opined that the former Students’ Union leader is simply using his “oversized ego” to a disadvantage, especially given the fact that on the average, he was only able to garner about a thousand votes in each of the states of the federation. In other words, he does not have a high quality electoral value.
President Buhari’s handlers recently released a picture of him picking his teeth apparently after a meal. The picture, coming at a time the Revolution Now debate was at its highest point, is already being read as unworried countenance in some quarters.
Those who believe Buhari has no reason to be bothered have opined that the President has so many issues bothering him and Sowore’s own might not even be at the front burner.
The Boko Haram insurgency is there, proving to be an international embarrassment almost on a daily basis. The President also has so many yet unfulfilled electoral promises to think of; as well as the ease of doing business, which is a source of concern to millions of Nigerians.
One other thing that would be on the President’s mind is putting the right minister in the right ministry.
Meanwhile, Buhari, a former military Head of State knows what it means to be sacked from office. After he was overthrown by his Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in 1985, he was detained for close to two years. So it is unlikely he would look kindly at anyone calling for a revolution or any other form of undemocratic change of power.
Interestingly, on coming to power in 1983 too, Buhari detained his predecessor, Alhaji Shehu Shagari for two years. Back then, Shagari was not allowed to see the sun and the only thing he was allowed to read was the Holy Qur’an.
The likes of late Professor Ambrose Folorunso Ali, Chiefs Busari ‘Eruobodo’ Adelakun and Olabisi Onabanjo were also locked up by the Buhari government back then.
What it means, Mr. President, though reformed as a civilian president, may not see a big deal in keeping the likes of Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky (who is presently on his way to India for medical attention) and Omoyele Sowore in the cooler for long periods of time. And now that the court has granted the DSS leave to hold him for 45 days, it might just be the beginning of legal gymnastics.
Packaged by Wole Adejumo
