A civil rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, claims that the federal government has deactivated all of his identification cards.
His national identity number (NIN), permanent voter card, passport, and driver’s license are among the documents purportedly deactivated.
Spokesperson for the African Action Congress (AAC), Femi Adeyeye, called the development “illegal” and a “affront” to Sowore’s fundamental rights in a statement released on Wednesday.
“This identity barrier was uncovered lately after the human rights activist and former presidential candidate attempted to make certain bank transactions for personal and humanitarian purposes,” according to the statement.
“Attempts were also made on his existing bank account. This excludes his bank account that was frozen for over two years by the Department of State Service (DSS), which claimed it was investigating him for terrorism.
“We describe all these moves by the forces of the regime, as illegal and affronts to the rights of Mr chairman.
“It is also important to recall that ever since the regime has unjustly kept our national chairman, Mr Omoyele Sowore under city arrest in Abuja, it has been one harassment or the other and a day won’t go without darts of persecution thrown at him. The regime continues to squander state resources, just to silence the courageous activist.
“Since the ruthless Buhari regime has become shameless, we in the AAC are ashamed on its behalf, as it has become clear that it will not save itself some dignity, even in the twilight of its infamous exit.
“We are not oblivious of the intent of this recent move which is nothing but a smokescreen of further attempts by the clueless regime to unjustly and illegally deny Mr Sowore his citizenship rights, especially the rights to vote and be voted for.
“It is no surprise that this is happening as the country prepares for an election year.
“We wish to sound this note of warning to the Buhari regime that all attempts to strip Mr Sowore of his citizenship rights will be resisted with full force within the ambits of the law.
“Conclusively, we call on the Buhari regime to stop forthwith the persecution of Omoyele Sowore as it is glaring the regime has no case against him and all means of identification and personal effects (phones) be restored to him immediately.”
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
