“Tinubu’s Presidency Is Illegitimate,” Says Sowore, Criticizing Leaders’ Fear of Criticism

Human rights activist and the convener of the RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has made it known that Nigerian leaders are often defensive towards criticism due to the fact that many of them have not been legitimately elected.

Speaking as a guest in a broadcast by VOPTV, Sowore cited President Bola Tinubu as an example. He asserted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) selected the President, rather than allowing a fair and free election.

“Tinubu wasn’t elected by the Nigerian people; he was selected by INEC,” Sowore stated. “It was a votes allocation. Everyone understands that.”

Sowore went on to explain that leaders who do not have a legitimate mandate are more susceptible to defensiveness, leading them to hire individuals who are adept at insults rather than solving the nation’s pressing issues.

According to Sowore, the lack of genuine concern for the well-being of the Nigerian people is what fuels the hostility towards criticism and genuine calls for change.

“If you are legitimately the leader of the people and you are working for the people, why will you be worried that the people are criticizing you?” Sowore questioned, emphasizing the importance of accountability in public service.

In the same interview, Sowore condemned President Bola Tinubu’s regime for endangering the welfare of children in the country.

He specifically condemned the jailing of children who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protests and individuals who spoke out against government officials, maintaining that the current government has no respect for the rule of law and fundamental human rights.

He said, “He (Tinubu) has the same characteristic with the military. In fact, what he is doing is worse than what the military did. This idea of jailing children after protests, jailing people for speaking against government officials. This is what the Decree 2 and Decree 4 people were doing under the military.

“It (Tinubu’s administration) is worse than the military. The military did not even jail children during their era, they did not charge children.”

Speaking in Pidgin, he also criticized President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” slogan, claiming that it has only brought hopelessness to the Nigerian people. He argued that the current administration has failed to live up to its promises, instead overseeing a worsening of living conditions and a decline in respect for the rule of law and human rights. , he said, “We have to keep telling the people. They (Tinubu government) talk say they bring renewed hope, nah hopelessness dem bring. Before e dey difficult to tell people how things bad reach, but this one (brought by Tinubu government) nah your stomach go tell you say time hard.”