Sudden Release of Sowore and Dasuki welcome, but decision an after thought, Nigeria’s image seriously damaged – Doherty

The Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Engr Adedeji Doherty during a Christmas meet and greet with journalists at his residence, welcomed the release of Mr Yele Sowore and former National Security Adviser, Alhj Sambo Dasuki, but observed that it only came after extreme pressure from home and abroad and serious reputation damage to the country!

Doherty said: “Dasuki has been in detention through the life time of this administration (around 4 years) and despite six courts granting him bail including an ECOWAS court the government disregarded the courts making up the rules as they went along. Mr Sowore on his own part has been brutalized, abused, kidnapped and held illegally. He was even brutalized, stampeded and re-arrested inside a court. Both men had their right to a fair trial denied by this same government. This was clearly undemocratic.

Doherty added: meaningful criticism of any administration should be seen as a check and balance mechanism in any democracy instead of it being seen as abuse or attack on the constituted authority. Power afterall belongs to the people and not the people in power.

It is obvious that Nigerians and the international community are watching the antics of this administration especially the supporters, players and executors of illegality, who by the way are using a forcefully acquired mandate to commit all sorts of illegal oppressive atrocities. This in my view can only give our country a bad name in the committee of Nations and lead to a complete breakdown of law and order.

My Advice to those in power is to always remember that the day of reckoning will come after their tenure has expired. It always catches up with the collaborators and executors of democratic crime.

Doherty added: “Look at Pakistan and the death sentence passed on their former president Musharraf, look at Samuel Doe of Liberia , look at Egyptian President Mubarak and Later President Morsi , these are all throwbacks that should serve as points of reflection and it is not impossible that same can happen in Nigeria.

Nigerians are a very patient and resilient group of people but could be very defiant if pushed to the wall.

Doherty advised the APC led administration not to get carried away by the pyrhic victories recorded in the past two general elections but to start asking themselves the salient question about the Legacy this administration would like to leave in the minds of the good people of this country.

Doherty said his advice to Nigerians would be to please continue praying for our Leaders to be God fearing and think more of the people rather than themselves!