Activist Sowore Accuses Tinubu’s Government of Fearing Peaceful Protesters More Than Armed Insurgents

 

Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, asserting that the government is more alarmed by peaceful demonstrators than it is by armed threats. Speaking on Arise Television during a candid interview, Sowore condemned the state’s continued clampdown on unarmed protesters, describing the government’s posture as hypocritical and rooted in fear of civil resistance.

Responding to a question about whether he believed the Tinubu-led government fears demonstrators, Sowore did not hesitate. He argued that the authorities are more rattled by ordinary citizens armed with placards than by those bearing weapons, simply because the former challenge the legitimacy and moral authority of the state in a way that cannot be easily suppressed.

He said, “I do. I do completely. They are afraid of placards more than they are afraid of guns, because they have the capacity to respond to people who are shooting at the government, but they have no capacity, they have no ability, and they have no strategy to stop the majority.”

According to Sowore, peaceful protests, especially when they emerge spontaneously from a broad base of citizens, represent a far greater threat to an unjust government than acts of armed rebellion. His perspective underscores the power of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience in exposing institutional weaknesses and galvanizing public support.

Sowore went further to point out what he described as politically motivated actions against individuals involved in the #EndBadGovernance movement. He referred specifically to the ongoing treason trial of 11 individuals who had participated in protests, describing the legal proceedings as unfounded and orchestrated to intimidate potential future activists.

He accused the police and prosecution team of fabricating narratives to delay justice, revealing that the officer who initiated the charges had himself been dismissed for falsifying his age. “As it is typical of the Nigerian police, the prosecutors in this case, they came to court asking for an adjournment, claiming that the police officer who started the prosecution has been retired, which is false. He wasn’t retired. He was dismissed from the police force for altering his age,” he stated.

Sowore emphasized the irony in the fact that the same individual who initiated the charges may soon be standing trial. According to him, this glaring inconsistency only further discredits the legitimacy of the case. “The originator of the charges is also going to be facing charges in the next one week or so for altering his age,” he added.

Earlier charges against some young protesters, believed to be minors, were quietly dropped following public embarrassment over their legitimacy. Sowore believes this decision was taken to avoid further scrutiny and backlash. However, in the case of the 11 facing treason charges, he argued that the government is determined to proceed as a deterrent.

“They want to continue to use them to discourage others who might get involved in peaceful protests in the future,” he said.

The activist’s remarks draw attention to a long-standing pattern in Nigeria where authorities treat dissent, especially in the form of protests and civic organization, as a threat to national security. Despite constitutional protections for freedom of speech and assembly, successive governments have often equated public demonstrations with insurrection.

Sowore, a veteran of activism and resistance politics, has himself been a frequent target of state repression. From multiple arrests to ongoing legal battles, he has continued to challenge what he perceives as authoritarian tendencies within the country’s political leadership.

His statements come at a time of growing dissatisfaction with governance, economic hardship, and perceived corruption. The #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance movements highlighted the power of youth-led protests, and it appears the government has since taken a hardline stance on preventing similar mobilizations.

Legal experts and human rights groups have also weighed in on the ongoing trial, raising concerns about due process and the broader implications for democracy. Many argue that equating peaceful protest with treason sets a dangerous precedent and erodes public trust in the justice system.

By framing the struggle as a battle between fearful leadership and courageous citizens, Sowore’s comments place emphasis on the civic power wielded by everyday Nigerians. He insists that placards, chants, and collective action remain the most potent tools for change, and that the government’s disproportionate response only highlights its vulnerability to popular dissent.

As tensions continue to simmer between activists and the state, the fate of the 11 accused protesters may become a defining moment in the ongoing discourse around human rights, freedom of expression, and the right to protest in Nigeria.