Leader of #BringBackOurGirls campaign and former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, was Monday morning arrested by security agents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as she tried to travel to London for a scheduled engagement.
The operatives confiscated her travelling documents as well.
She was however released after the government came under intense pressure as news of her arrest flooded the social media and travelled around the country, with many Nigerians lambasting the administration for increasingly clamping down on critics and members of the opposition.
Mrs. Ezekwesili had tweeted at 7:37 a.m. Monday that she was heading to London to appear on the BBC Hardtalk programme but was prevented from boarding her flight by security operatives.
Is this a democracy? I am being detained by the SSS at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport . The SSS has refused to give my passport to me,” she posted. “On my way to London this morning for my @BBCHARDtalk appearance billed for tomorrow and the SSS has detained me by withholding my passport.”
These tweets soon went viral within minutes with several Nigerians on social media lampooning the government and calling for the immediate release of the former minister.
At 8:03 am, Mrs. Ezekwesili tweeted that the operatives had released her passport.
“SSS has released it. Just barely made the BA flight. Last to board @ 7.55 for an 8.00 am flight that is now taxiing. Is this democracy?” she wrote. “No one can seize my democratic rights. I refused to let the SSS get away with trampling on my constitutional right.”
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| Ezekwesili leading the #BringBackOurGirls protest in Abuja |
A former World Bank executive, Mrs. Ezekwesili is a renowned anti-corruption campaigner and she has in the past year become one of the most vociferous critics of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
She has accused the administration of widespread corruption and has repeatedly demanded accountability on the use of the nation’s oil revenues.
The #BringBackOurGirls group she leads has become a thorn in the flesh of the administration with the government making unsubstantiated allegations to discredit the campaigners.
The administration recently hired an American Public Relations firm to help it counter the narratives being pushed by the activists regarding the government’s effort to rescue the missing girls.
the next arest will be real if she does not stop insulting the number one citizen. Fake woman!
ReplyDeleteI am really surprised by your comment. That explains why our leaders can do what they do
Deletethat commenter needs a mental checkup. he is obviously not okay
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteU are a thief stop stealing by trick
DeleteGEJ, she should be reminded in kirikiri, and released after election
ReplyDeleteBeni!
Deleteshe is a stipid woman, she is decieving herself after eating and dinning with the PDP members
ReplyDeletepolitics of selfish intrest bcs she did not have chance in GEJ administrations thats why she is shouting like that...as she is shouting now people will think she is fighting for the masses not knowing he is fighting for her pocket
ReplyDeleteIt's quite unfortunate we have very ill-informed and sentimentally inclined people in this country. We are far from being realists and devoid of ethnic sentiments, seeing that GEJ and PDP are leading us into serious chaos in this country yet some bigots, ethnic i.e., see nothing wrong in what PDP under Jonathan is doing. This country belongs to every Nigerian, not GEJ or any Ijaw man for that matter. So he should tread slowly.
ReplyDeleteOby, you think you are fighting the President but you are bringing down the image of the country for your selfish & political interest. Your attitude negates patriotism to the nation & the good people of Nigeria. Please be honest & sincere with your struggle. Give constructive advice instead of running down the government. As a Christian you are to pray for God's direction & guidance for your leaders . Please you are not above the law ;respect constituted authority.
ReplyDeletesee put calling kettle black.foolish hypocrites.
ReplyDeleteIf GEJ does not have skeleton in his cupboard, why arresting the truth sayer? We don't need a tyrant as a president
ReplyDeleteThis woman is a disgrace to womanhood and an embarrassment to ndigbo. When she was the education minister,what did she achieve. Emergency activist. Useless woman. The sagacity of a foolish stupid woman is foolishness for the humble woman. This is why I praise the virtues and disposition of a real Muslim woman.The difference is clear.Take it or leave it.O to!
ReplyDeleteVery stupid and greedy woman, just because she has been kicked out of the choppings that's why she's complaining. ole ole! Oby go siton for gutter. why did you not criticize them when u were a pdp member and a minister? foolish woman, Nigerians are wiser than this make belief movie of yours. crying fowl when there is none!
ReplyDeleteAll of u insulting her are a bunch of low minds, nig is lagging behind cos of people like you, renew your minds
Deletegrace u think through your anus! and too myopic. get a life.
DeleteArrogant woman.
ReplyDeleteMy fellow Nigerian, am very surprised dat some uniform among us are calling citizen Oby unprintable name when in d actual fact l have never see any patriotic Nigeria woman like her. Pls let celebrate our best and stop cruxify dem. Thank u
ReplyDelete