Omoyele Sowore continues to cloak himself with the label of “pro-democracy activist,” yet his actions tell a very different story. What emerges is not patriotism, but a troubling alignment with foreign powers intent on destabilizing Nigeria. His methods mirror the old intelligence playbook particularly that of the CIA, where reckless opportunistic individuals are preyed upon, to advance their agenda as tools to undermine sovereign nations. Sowore’s record of incitement, propaganda, and hostility towards security institutions reflects this pattern with disturbing accuracy.
His drive is not rooted in service to the people, but in personal ambition and the demands of his sponsors. By manipulating crises and turning disinformation into a weapon, he fuels division and unrest. Crucially, this behavior is also part of his desperate attempt to gain cheap popularity and revive a political ambition that Nigerians have long rejected at the polls. In effect, every act of provocation becomes less about democracy and more about his own relevance.
The recent trial in the United States of the man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump serves as a stark lesson: unchecked recklessness escalates into violence. If Sowore’s pattern of agitation is ignored, it risks radicalizing his followers, creating the very real possibility of violent action more than what was experienced during and after the EndSARS protest in 2020, innocence lives may be loss, and even possible murder against Nigeria’s president.
This is why Nigeria must remain alert. Democratic dissent is legitimate, but treachery masked as activism cannot be normalised. Sowore’s betrayal disguised as activism cannot be tolerated, it is a time bomb that must be defused before it explodes into chaos.
In this context, the decisive steps taken by the Police and DSS to contain his excesses deserve recognition. Safeguarding peace and stability is not the job of security agencies alone; it is a collective responsibility of citizens who value the survival of their country above the theatrics of an individual chasing lost political relevance.