The Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has said he is
ready put his life on the line to ensure those he described as “drug
dealers, certificate forgers, money launderers, political manipulators,
and assassins” are named and shamed.
Sowore stated this via a post he made on his Facebook page in
response to a statement made by Senator Dino Melaye that he would ensure
he (Sowore) is sent to jail for alleged libel.
He said the quagmire between himself and Melaye can be likened to
that of former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, who
instituted libel charges, petitions, even incarcerated and allegedly
murdered late Dele Giwa and persecuted Gani Fawehinmi over their
investigative stance.
Sowore wrote, “Folks: It was brought to my attention earlier that
Nigerian Senator Dino Melaye promised to ‘send me to jail’ over the
recent unraveling of his questionable educational background. While some
are worried, appalled, alarmed and concerned and even scared about this
declaration, it had me thinking differently.
“I am a Nigerian citizen who had been through torture, humiliations,
and incarceration by dictators in uniform between 1992-1999 before I,
eventually, left Nigeria. I have never doubted the power of justice over
legalities.
“That a Nigerian Senator in a democratic era could make this
proclamation is indeed a sign that our democratic transition was a
farce, particular when you’ve now noticed that Mr. Melaye was sitting at
the feet of one of Nigeria’s worst military dictators, Ibrahim
Babangida just a week ago.
“One of Babangida’s worst crimes against humanity was the
assassination of notable investigative journalists of our time, Dele
Giwa, by way of a parcel bomb. Another thing Melaye shares in common
with Babangida and his killer squad was using libel lawsuits to silence
inquisitions. In the 80’s Gani Fawehimi was found liable of libeling the
killers of Dele Giwa and asked to pay damages to Halilu Akilu.
“Here is how I am different and also not different, I am not going to
run away from criminals running the Nigerian political space until they
are defeated, and their ideologies of greed, bloodiness, and avarice
are entirely abandoned and discredited forever (Apology to Bob Marley).
“If it takes my life, so be it; if it means another unjust ruling
asking for damages for thieves. So be it. We must take our space back
from the 10 percents, drug dealers, certificate forgers, money
launderers, political manipulators, and assassins.
It could be recalled Melaye had petition the Inspector General of Police
accusing Sowore and Sahara Reporters of libel for its reports that he
(Melaye) did not graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and promising to send him to jail.
source:Dailypost
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