Omoyele Sowore has rejected criticism from former Labour Party presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed over his comments on former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida.
Sowore, in a statement titled “My Response To Mallam Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed Over My Comments On Ex-Nigerian Military Dictator Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida At 85: Compassion Does Not Require Historical Amnesia”, said Nigerians have a right to interrogate Babangida’s record.
He said his criticism was not based on Babangida’s age but on decisions taken during his years in power and their impact on Nigeria.
“I wish no illness upon Ibrahim Babangida, but I will not participate in rewriting his record simply because he has grown old,” Sowore said.
He also rejected Baba-Ahmed’s description of Babangida as a “revered former Nigerian leader”, asking, “Revered by whom?”
Sowore argued that compassion for an elderly former ruler should not require Nigerians to forget the consequences of his decisions.
“Growing old is a privilege. It is not immunity from history,” he said.
The activist pointed to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which Babangida has acknowledged was won by MKO Abiola, as part of the former military ruler’s record that Nigerians should continue to examine.
“Democracy means respecting citizens’ votes and their right to choose their leaders,” he said.
Sowore also criticised what he described as excessive deference to Nigeria’s political elite, citing the use of titles such as “Uncle”, “Daddy”, “Leader”, “Baba” and “Your Excellency”.
“A President is a public servant, not my uncle,” he said.
He maintained that his criticism of Babangida was about accountability rather than personal hatred.
“My politics has never been about hatred of individuals. It is about systems. It is about accountability. It is about institutions that work for all citizens regardless of class or social status,” he said.
Sowore said Nigerians should retain the right to remember events associated with Babangida’s rule, including June 12, the killing of journalist Dele Giwa, the execution of military officers over alleged coup plots and the Structural Adjustment Programme.
“We remember the corruption. We remember the deception,” he said.
He also rejected Baba-Ahmed’s suggestion that people like him seeking to lead Nigeria are “the real danger”.
“No, Datti,” Sowore said. “The danger to Nigeria is not citizens who refuse to worship former wicked rulers.”
He said the greater danger was a political culture that “rehabilitates failure, protects privilege, and demands silence from anyone who refuses to participate.”
Sowore concluded by insisting that public officials, regardless of their age, should remain subject to scrutiny.
“I don’t care whether the person responsible is 35, 55 or 85. If you exercised public power, your record belongs to the public,” he said.
“That is not hatred. That is how a serious country learns from its past and builds a different future.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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