Senator Robert Menendez, an American lawmaker serving as the senior United States Senator from New Jersey, a position he has maintained since 2006, has responded to the ongoing political turmoil between the State Security Service, self-designated as the Department of State Services, and the organizer of the Revolution Now initiative, Sowore Omoyele.
In a now-famous video, Menendez pledged the involvement of the United States in the matter, as he clearly articulated that not only does the DSS lack justification to disregard the court’s orders in a democratic system, but the individual in question, Omoyele Sowore, has not breached any laws by exercising his right to free speech.
The Senator commented;
“The United States is observing and the global community is paying attention. I am concerned that the blatant intimidation of Mr. Omoyele Sowore, an activist and journalist whose sole offense seems to be exercising his right to freedom of expression, is indicative of the increasingly constricting political and civic environment in Nigeria,” Menendez stated.
“The Nigerian judiciary has mandated his release on bail twice. Yet, the state security forces have openly flouted the court’s directive on both occasions, leading me to conclude that either Nigeria no longer upholds the rule of law or President Buhari is profoundly disconnected from the actions being taken by agents of his administration in his name.
“This is intolerable in a nation that prides itself on being a democracy. Journalists who risk their lives to reveal the truth deserve recognition, not imprisonment.
“It is reprehensible to treat the spouse and father of a US citizen with such overt brutality. Today, my office reached out to our ambassador in Nigeria to seek clarification on what steps the United States is undertaking on behalf of the Sowore family.
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