Sowore Challenges Tinubu’s Activist Credentials Amid National Honours Controversy.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has publicly disputed claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a prominent figure in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement during the military era. The statement, reported by The Guardian Nigeria on 13 June 2025, has reignited debate over Tinubu’s historical role and his recent conferment of national honours.
Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, made the remarks in response to speculations about his exclusion from a list of national honourees announced by President Tinubu. The president conferred posthumous honours on figures such as Kudirat Abiola and members of the Ogoni Nine, alongside naming Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka as a Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger. The decision to name the International Conference Centre in Abuja after Tinubu, as announced by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, sparked further discussion, with some netizens questioning why Sowore was not recognised for his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
Addressing these speculations, Sowore, a long-time critic of Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress-led government, dismissed any association with the president during the June 12 struggle for democracy. He clarified that a widely circulated photograph showing him with Tinubu and the late MKO Abiola was merely a situational necessity and not indicative of a close relationship. “I was never close to him,” Sowore stated, adding that he would reject and legally challenge any attempt to include him in Tinubu’s national honours list, citing potential defamation.
Sowore’s critique extends beyond personal history, as he described Tinubu as a “questionable” leader with unresolved accountability issues. Speaking on the state of the nation, he argued that Nigerians must elect leaders who can be held accountable, asserting that Tinubu’s leadership has failed to meet this standard. Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with users highlighting Sowore’s challenge to Tinubu’s activist narrative as a bold stance against the government’s portrayal of its leader.
The controversy comes amid broader national challenges, including economic reforms under Tinubu’s administration that have increased living costs, drawing criticism from figures like musician Eedris Abdulkareem, whose song critiquing Tinubu was recently banned. As Nigeria navigates these tensions, Sowore’s remarks underscore ongoing debates about historical narratives, leadership accountability, and the recognition of democratic contributions.
