Both men, sooner than later, in their typical days, were apt to show their angry demeanours in social and political discourses. President Buhari and Omoyele Sowore, in many ways, have led lives that reflected their dissatisfaction, even anger, with Nigeria’s political leadership and parties.
One is lean, slow, deliberate and often distant, as he stares into space. The other is compact, quick, agitated and often preoccupied with his mobile phones. I am describing, respectively, my impressions of President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Omoyele Sowore from watching them both up close physically.
They are two different people, as different as two people can be, including in their ages and life experiences. Yet, they are two very similar persons. In so many ways that this article will explain, their trajectories have been different, but their ways very similar.
In taking a stand against the establishment, Sowore has lived a life of protests. He was a relentless advocate for civil and political rights as a students union leader at University of Lagos. Later on, he founded SaharaReporters, one of the early online alternative media that has been championing agitations against all governments of Nigeria since 2006.
Buhari as a professional military officer might be perceived as conformist and obedient to the military tradition. A closer look however reveals something different. His most visible form of protest has been that within and outside his military career, he has demonstrated a non-conformist mien. He has been described as austere, withdrawn and often aloof. In his political roles in military uniform, he was not given to the physical and social excesses that characterised several of his contemporaries who assumed political roles.
Just as Buhari has held several political appointments and worked within political structures, Sowore has been around and within politics, including engaging institutions of government to criticise them, and sometimes to collaborate with them as sources of his investigations. Buhari and Sowore came to the same conclusion at some early point, and neither was happy with government and the regular politican.
Both men, sooner than later, in their typical days, were apt to show their angry demeanours in social and political discourses. President Buhari and Omoyele Sowore, in many ways, have led lives that reflected their dissatisfaction, even anger, with Nigeria’s political leadership and parties.
Nigeria is ripe for change. The road to change is already littered with promises not kept, accidents caused deliberately by agents of the status quo, and obstacles that hinder progress for the largest segments of the population. Sooner than later, it may become a stark reality to decide which path can truly lead to change – within the existing order, or its overturn to give way to drastic shifts.
Buhari, as a military officer, was one of the leaders of several coups d’etat against military and civilian governments. For example, in December 1983, he was one of the military leaders who overthrew President Shehu Shagari. Buhari and his deputy, Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon, ruled Nigeria for some two years, in a regime that was characterised by their “War Against Indiscipline”. They jailed many people, punished many others and made draconian laws. Buhari has not led a quiet life of conforming to the established order.
Similarly, Sowore has never been short of negative words to describe what goes on in Nigeria. His lifelong pursuit of activism against government has been loud. He has been intolerant of corruption, misrule, abuse of office and exploitative social norms.
President Buhari, after his military career, found his voice within a new political party, the All Nigeria People’s Party, and later on the Congress for Progressive Change. He ran unsuccessfully to become president three times. He won only after his fourth campaign for office on the platform of the the All Progressives Congress (APC). He has fulfilled his desire to rule Nigeria.
Sowore, who had established a powerful, successful media platform, SaharaReporters, to destabilise the political space, also found a political party, the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2018. The party lost resoundingly at Sowore’s first attempt to use the electoral system to become president.
When President Buhari lost his earlier elections, he did not keep quiet. He spat fire. His frustration with the electoral process was heard loudly. For example, He claimed that the 2011 elections were rigged, stating angrily that: “If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.”
Sowore, after his electoral loss, did not keep quiet either. Moreover, he concluded that open agitation to upend the system was perhaps more effective. He spoke angrily too.
In their characteristic ways, neither of the two men accepted their losses nor did they settle down to parley with the winners. They did not go quietly into the night.
How did Sowore who acted in support of, advocated for Buhari, and his political party’s “change” agenda, become the “enemy” of the president and his government?
Sowore, reacting against the electoral process of 2015, called out other instruments of persuasion. He brandished a new slogan of “Revolution Now” and led street campaigns. Unfortunately, for seeking new avenues to change the political discourse, he became the enemy that needed to be stopped by the forces of law and order.
It is written and said by many people that Sowore was the nemesis of President Jonathan’s government and SaharaReporters was a most potent media that charted the way for the end of Jonathan’s government and the entry of President Buhari into office in 2015.
Sowore, especially through SaharaReporters, has campaigned in the public arena consistently against the ills of every government from 2006 to date. Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan were not spared, nor were their ministers, appointees and other political associates. Some of these leaders have had their wives painted in undignified portraits in the online media, especially for corrupt activities.
How did Sowore who acted in support of, advocated for Buhari, and his political party’s “change” agenda, become the “enemy” of the president and his government?
Buhari was fed up with poor governance, he campaigned in support of a new order and fought hard to get into power. Both Buhari and Sowore swear that Nigeria must change. Sowore’s impatience with the slow nature of or lack of change has led him to seek possible pressure points to accelerate the needed change. What differentiates the two in the new sphere is that whilst Buhari is bound by the fences of government house and its dictates, Sowore chose to try the paths not taken, using mostly words.
Nigeria is ripe for change. The road to change is already littered with promises not kept, accidents caused deliberately by agents of the status quo, and obstacles that hinder progress for the largest segments of the population. Sooner than later, it may become a stark reality to decide which path can truly lead to change – within the existing order, or its overturn to give way to drastic shifts. Patience may have an expiration date.
Bunmi Makinwa is the CEO of AUNIQUEI Communication for Leadership.
