President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded millions of Nigerian who he said ignored the “Revolution Now” protest scheduled to hold on Monday.
He said he was humbled by the support exhibited by Nigerians for the nation’s democratic rule.
Some persons had scheduled a protest titled “Revolution Now” for Monday to take over government.
One of the leaders of the protests and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the last election, Omoyele Sowore, was arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Efforts to gather for the protest at the National Stadium, Lagos, were also frustrated by security agencies who said the gathering was illegal as no permission was taken.
In a statement by his media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, the president said the protest was against national interest.
The statement read in parts: “Today, millions of Nigerians went about their businesses: work, seeking employment, attending school/college and caring for their families.
”By doing so, the millions defended our country’s hard-won democratic rights – by ignoring calls on social media to join a phantom ‘revolution’.
“There were a few hundred persons today who, for their own reasons, decided to act upon the demands of a group calling itself Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, which went on social media to ask everyday Nigerians to overthrow the government they only elected some six months ago.
“The President is humbled by the support – not for himself, or the governing party – but for the democratic values of modern-day Nigeria through the wisdom of those millions of citizens who preferred democracy and decided not to undermine an elected government.
“Today, joining those millions of Nigerians was not only the President and governing party at federal level, but many state governments from the opposition, trade unions, civil society organisations, media and NGOs with focus on freedom of speech.
”All have, rightly, united in protecting Nigeria’s young democracy and the rights of all to elect leaders and lawmakers.
“The Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’s attempt to incite citizens into a revolution against their own democratic rights and interests has failed – as will all attempts to take away from the people their hard-won rights and freedom to choose who leads their country.”
