Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has alleged that successive Nigerian governments have targeted him for more than three decades because of his activism against corruption and abuse of power.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking on his ongoing legal troubles, Sowore said the campaign against him began in 1989 when he was 18 years old under military rule and has continued under successive civilian administrations.
“They have been after me since I was 18 years old in this country, 1989. The military was after me. They have tried to kill me in this country,” he said.
Sowore rejected claims that his current prosecution is linked to the boundaries between free speech and criminal defamation, insisting instead that it is politically motivated.
“I am being punished by people in power for standing up for my rights and standing up for the rights of other people.
“It didn’t start today. They have a historical anger against me.”
According to him, the conflict is rooted in his long-standing opposition to corruption and impunity by Nigeria’s political elite.
“It’s an issue between the ruling class and me in Nigeria that has been destroying the country, that I have stood in their way—in the way they do corruption, in the way they carry out impunity.”
Recalling what he described as years of persecution, Sowore cited several incidents, including the seizure of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, his expulsion from the University of Lagos, multiple arrests and confrontations with security agencies.
“What was the reason they gave for seizing my NYSC certificate? That I discussed politics in 1996 when the military was in power. What was the reason I was expelled from the university? Because I participated in protests.”
He also alleged that he had been abducted and attacked while participating in peaceful demonstrations.
“I was abducted in this country. I’ve been shot at. I was shot with a riot gun in this country. So what was I saying when a police officer shot me? Was I not participating in peaceful protests?”
Sowore dismissed claims that his recent detention was solely the result of allegedly defamatory remarks against President Bola Tinubu, maintaining that the official explanation does not reflect the real reason for his arrest.
“Forget about what they tell you is the reason they arrest me. What they say publicly is not the real reason.”
He further defended his comments, insisting they were based on facts rather than personal attacks.
“There’s nothing about what I’ve said, and what I keep saying, that everybody doesn’t know… I’m not just calling names. I have facts, and I’m presenting the facts.”
The activist also stressed the importance of protecting free speech in a democratic society, arguing that elected leaders should be willing to tolerate criticism from citizens.
“If I’m president of Nigeria, I will not have time to police speech. If you call me any names, I won’t listen to you because it will be within your rights.”
While acknowledging that public officials have the right to seek legal remedies if they believe they have been defamed, Sowore argued that such disputes should be handled through civil litigation rather than criminal prosecution.
“If I feel bad about it, I will take you to a civil court, but I will not be the president who sends security agencies to arrest people because they criticised me.”
This version improves flow, removes repetition, preserves all key quotes, and follows a standard newspaper style suitable for publication.
