Human rights activist, journalist, and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has publicly stated he has never met former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and expressed strong personal opposition to him, linking his views to historical developments in Nigeria’s education sector. Sowore made the remarks during an interview on the X programme titled “Nix: Outside the Box”, published on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
Sowore said he has never visited the presidential residence at Aso Rock or met a sitting Nigerian president, including Obasanjo, despite decades of activism and involvement in national politics.
He described Obasanjo as “probably one of the people I can’t even stand,” explaining that his views were shaped long before his university education and linked to national events during Obasanjo’s time in office.
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Sowore referenced student protests and educational decline during Obasanjo’s administration, asserting, “Part of the reason we were rushing to the university was that Ali must go, and it was Obasanjo period.
It was from that period that he started destroying the education system.” He added that he does not know Obasanjo’s appearance, reinforcing that he has never had encounter with him personally.
The interview reflects Sowore’s longstanding critical stance toward Nigeria’s political elite. Sowore, who founded Sahara Reporters and ran for president in 2019, has historically rejected alliances with established politicians and coalitions that, in his view, compromise substantive reform.
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In recent commentary, he reiterated his refusal to form opposition coalitions with figures such as former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai and former AGF Abubakar Malami, characterising them as contributors to systemic stagnation rather than agents of change.
Sowore’s comments on Obasanjo add to a broader pattern of critique from activists and public figures questioning Obasanjo’s legacy on governance, accountability, and institutional performance.
Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and as an elected civilian president from 1999 to 2007 following the end of military rule.
Source:NaijaNews
