“Sowore Slams Military Dictators: A Legacy of Damage and Destruction”
On Wednesday, Omoyele Sowore, a prominent activist and politician, boldly accused Nigeria’s past military rulers of causing irreparable damage to the country. He specifically named former military leaders such as Ibrahim Babangida, Yakubu Gowon, Sani Abacha, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, saying that their rule was marked by corruption and oppression that hurt the Nigerian people.
Sowore made these comments while sharing a powerful video on his X handle, showing the arrival of the late MKO Abiola’s body in Lagos ahead of his burial. Abiola, a revered figure in Nigeria’s history, was the victor in the annulled 1993 presidential election, which set the stage for his tragic death in detention.
In his post, Sowore emphasized the profound impact of Abiola’s death and burial, recalling how it marked a pivotal moment for him and fellow activists. He said it was during that sorrowful occasion in 1998 that they made a solemn vow to “bury the Nigerian military.” However, Sowore added, the struggle didn’t stop there. He called for the punishment of those within the military ranks who, in his view, were responsible for the destruction of Nigeria.
“I attended the 1998 burial ceremony of Chief MKO Abiola, the acknowledged winner of the June 12, 1993, election,” Sowore shared. “It was a day we made the declaration to bury the ‘Nigerian military’ but we must also make a solemn declaration to punish those in their ranks who destroyed our country.”
Sowore’s comments came shortly after the release of a book by Ibrahim Babangida, titled A Journey in Service, further fueling debates about the legacy of military rule in Nigeria.
His post on social media has since sparked conversations about accountability and justice for the leaders who once held Nigeria under military control. Sowore’s call to action is a reminder of the long road to healing and the need for the country to confront its troubled past.
