Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has rejected the idea of receiving any form of national honour, insisting that his fight for democracy was never about personal recognition, but a deep, ongoing struggle for freedom.
Speaking in an interview ARISE NEWS on Sunday about the commemoration of June 12 where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred national honours on heroes of Nigeria’s democracy, Sowore said the federal government’s practice of bestowing national honours on individuals has rendered the process hollow and politically motivated.
“I’m not trying to build my CV on the back of a national honour award. I am not interested in a national award because I did not fight the struggle that I fought and I continue to fight because I’m looking for an award. I did it because I want to be free. I want a country where people are free to pursue their desires and aspirations in life.
“I want a country where people can flourish, not a country where national awards are handed over to people to patronise them. But more importantly, which is the valuable contribution I can make to this, is that the national honour granted anyone is as good as the person honouring the person,” he said.
“I do not need a national award. I don’t need it from the government. And I’ve never sought or asked for an award. Generally, I do not seek or accept awards. It’s just my own personal preference.”
Sowore argued that Nigeria has only transitioned from military dictatorship to civilian rule, but is yet to achieve true democracy. He pointed to the current hardship, increasing police repression, and what he described as a political culture of intimidation and hypocrisy.
“We had, in my view, a transition from military rule to civilian rule, but not for democracy yet. Award is not what we are looking for. We’re looking for liberation. We’re looking for fundamental shifts in our movement towards progress in the country, particularly democratic progress.”
Recalling his own experiences, Sowore spoke of how his activism led to his expulsion from the University of Lagos, his NYSC certificate being withheld, and repeated harassment, including a recent police attack in Ondo State while marking June 12.
“The struggle for democracy has not ended. So why are we awarding ourselves?” he said.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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