The reason for the visit to the Department of State Security Services (DSS) over detained journalist and activist Omoyele Sowore was not to persuade him to stop criticising the government but to make the DSS understand the implication of their actions, Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard newspapers has said.
The Nation reports that he disclosed this at the launch of the book “The Big Interviews” by Mr. Eric Osagie.
Premium Times had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari on two occasions sent emissaries to the detained publisher of Sahara Reporters Sowore to extract commitment from him to back down on the ‘revolution now’ protest as a precondition for his release.
Sowore, however, reportedly rejected both attempts as extra-judicial and self-serving, saying he would not take part in any arrangement that would essentially lend legitimacy to unwarranted abuse of his fundamental rights and brazen disregard of judicial authority.
Those who took part in the botched negotiation included Isa Funtua, a close political associate of the president; Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard newspapers; Nduka Ogbaigbena, publisher of Thisday newspapers and presidential spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu.
More to come…
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