Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has openly challenged the popular view that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu played a major activist role during Nigeria’s military era.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds on Sunday, Sowore said Tinubu’s record does not match that of genuine activists who risked their lives and freedom during the fight against military rule in the 1990s.
“Your president was never an activist,” Sowore said bluntly. He argued that activism means being physically involved in protests, facing arrests, and standing up to power — not going into exile or engaging in party politics.
“Participating in partisan politics and being left out of a deal with the military is not activism,” he said. “People who did real activism went to jail, led protests, and were visible. We know their names, addresses, and have seen their videos.”
Sowore contrasted Tinubu’s story with his own, saying he began leading student protests as early as 21 and faced arrest several times. According to him, real activists were on the ground, not fleeing abroad at the first sign of trouble.
He accused some politicians of using the June 12, 1993, struggle as a cover to gain power and wealth. “June 12 created room for opportunists and corrupt people to hijack the movement,” he said.
Sowore also questioned the relationship between present-day political leaders and former military rulers. “Some of Tinubu’s closest friends are former military heads. Babangida and Abdulsalami are among them,” he claimed.
He recounted how he once protested an award given to Abdulsalami Abubakar in the U.S., which had been supported by Tinubu’s allies, and that the protest eventually led to a lawsuit.
Sowore concluded by calling for a clear distinction between those who truly fought for democracy and those who only claimed credit afterward. “There must be a categorisation — who is real and who is not real,” he said.
