Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticized Peter Obi’s stance on the protests against former President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic policies, describing it as “questionably dishonest” and even “outrightly DUMB.”
Sowore’s remarks, which were made in a recent statement on his social media handles, point to what he perceives as a contradiction in Obi’s approach to political protests and governance.
Sowore, an outspoken critic of Nigeria’s political leadership, raised significant concerns regarding Obi’s involvement in Jonathan’s administration and his apparent dismissal of protests against the latter’s policies. “He seems to imply that protests against Goodluck Jonathan’s economic policies were unnecessary, given his role as an ‘Economic Adviser’ in that administration. They were all supporting themselves by looting Nigeria dry, including the role of his Fidelity Bank assisting Diezani to move hard cold cash,” Sowore remarked.
The activist also questioned Obi’s current perspective on the regime of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, suggesting that if Obi believed protests were unwarranted under Jonathan, Tinubu’s handlers should adopt a similar stance. “If he believes protests are unwarranted under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, why should Tinubu’s handlers not hold the same view? After all, they claim that their economic policies are for the good of Nigerians, even though our people are dying in droves, and they too have looted Nigeria dry in less than two years,” Sowore emphasized.
Sowore also pointed to Obi’s “Obidient” movement, which he said failed to take a stand on critical national issues, including the presidential election results and the #EndBadGovernance protests. He accused Obi and his movement of being inactive or complicit in the face of corruption, calling them “opportunists” who benefit from the struggles of others. “Notably, his Obidient movement did not protest the presidential election results, which they repeatedly claimed he won, nor did they participate in the #EndBadGovernance protests in 2024, claiming it was set up by ‘controlled opposition’,” Sowore stated.
He further criticized Obi for his silence during the fuel price hikes and his failure to oppose the Naira redesign policy, pointing out that Obi’s ally, former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, played a crucial role in the policy. “Even with the fuel price hikes he is speaking about here, there was not a time he ever led or encouraged Nigerians to oppose it,” Sowore added.
Sowore also called out Obi for his inability to initiate any meaningful action within his movement since its inception, accusing him of using the struggles of others for personal gain without taking any substantial steps to challenge systemic injustice. “Since the establishment of his GBAJUE ‘Obidient’ movement, not once has anything been done other than inaction or gaslighting other Nigerians, especially those who rightly didn’t support his political ambition/agenda,” Sowore noted. He claimed that Obi’s movement aimed to replace a corrupt set of politicians with his own “anointed set of corrupt opportunists,” some of whom have now returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Drawing a parallel to the #EndSARS movement, Sowore warned that Obi, like other politicians, was hoping to benefit from the “sweat and blood of others” without lifting a finger to challenge the injustice faced by ordinary Nigerians. “Like #EndSARS, he, Peter Obi, is hoping to benefit from the sweat and blood of others without a finger raised to challenge injustice even against his own ‘Obidient’ movement members. OPPORTUNISTS!” Sowore concluded.
