Sowore Hits Back at Datti Baba-Ahmed Over Babangida Row, Says Compassion Cannot Erase History

• Omoyele Sowore has fired back at former Labour Party presidential candidate’s running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, over his criticism of his comments on former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida.

• Sowore said Babangida’s age and health could not erase controversies surrounding his regime, particularly the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

• He accused Datti of displaying excessive deference to members of Nigeria’s political establishment while preaching accountability, recalling an encounter with him and President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 election cycle.

• Sowore maintained that Nigerians have the right to interrogate the records of former leaders, arguing that growing old should not grant political figures immunity from scrutiny over decisions taken while they wielded public power.

August 20, () — Activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has launched a fresh attack on Datti Baba-Ahmed over the latter’s criticism of his comments concerning former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, insisting that compassion must not be used to erase Nigeria’s troubled political history.

Sowore, in a response to Baba-Ahmed, said he had read the latter’s article published in Daily Trust in which he criticised him for comments made about Babangida as the former military ruler marked his 85th birthday.

The activist described Baba-Ahmed’s intervention as an attempt to “whitewash” Babangida’s record, arguing that Nigerians have every right to remember and interrogate the decisions taken during his years in power.

Sowore said his criticism of Babangida was not motivated by the former ruler’s age, stressing that he was addressing the legacy of his administration and its impact on the country.

According to him, “age does not erase history,” while ill health should not be interpreted as political immunity or a reason for Nigerians to overlook alleged abuses and controversial decisions associated with a former leader. I wish no illness upon Ibrahim Babangida, but I will not participate in rewriting his record simply because he has grown old.”

The activist particularly cited the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, saying the issue remained central to any assessment of Babangida’s place in Nigeria’s political history.

He argued that the election, widely regarded as having been won by the late Chief MKO Abiola, represented a democratic choice that was denied Nigerians.

Sowore also referenced Babangida’s recent acknowledgement that Abiola won the election, questioning why Nigerians should be expected to forget the consequences of the decision taken by his administration.

“A ruler cannot create or deepen political crises and then demand eternal gratitude for ‘managing’ them,” he said, arguing that democracy fundamentally requires that citizens’ votes should count.

Sowore Recalls Datti’s Encounter With Tinubu

Sowore also devoted a significant part of his response to recounting his previous encounters with Datti Baba-Ahmed, particularly during the 2023 presidential election campaign.

He recalled meeting Baba-Ahmed at a National Peace Committee event during the 2023 election cycle, alleging that the politician confronted him over his decision to sit close to Peter Obi, who was then the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Sowore said he maintained that Baba-Ahmed, as a vice-presidential candidate, had no superior claim to a seat reserved for presidential candidates.

According to him, the situation changed when then-APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu arrived and sat beside him.

Sowore alleged that Baba-Ahmed, despite the political differences between the Labour Party ticket and Tinubu’s APC at the time, became highly deferential towards Tinubu, addressing him as “Uncle,” “Sir” and “Daddy.”

He said the incident reinforced his perception that Nigeria’s political establishment was often more closely connected behind the scenes than the public rhetoric of political campaigns suggested.

Sowore further claimed that Peter Obi also displayed similar deference towards Tinubu after arriving at the venue.

He said the episode had remained with him and shaped his view of Nigeria’s political establishment, which he accused of encouraging supporters to engage in bitter political battles while political elites maintained cordial personal relationships.

“Their supporters fight bitterly online and sometimes in the streets. They insult, threaten and destroy relationships, defending political figures who, behind the curtains, address one another as ‘Uncle,’ ‘Daddy,’ ‘Sir,’ brother, and friend,” he said.

Sowore argued that such a culture of excessive deference to powerful political figures makes accountability more difficult.

“A President is a public servant, not my uncle,” he said.

‘June 12, Dele Giwa, Military Executions Cannot Be Forgotten’

Turning directly to Babangida’s record, Sowore listed several events and controversies he said Nigerians must continue to remember, including the June 12 election, the assassination of journalist Dele Giwa, the execution of military officers over alleged coup plots, political detentions and controversies surrounding the management of Nigeria’s economy under military rule.

He also referenced the controversial disappearance of billions of dollars from Nigeria’s oil windfall during the Gulf War period, as well as the Structural Adjustment Programme and its economic consequences.

Sowore said these issues formed part of the historical record Nigerians should be allowed to discuss without being accused of lacking compassion.

“We remember June 12. We remember Dele Giwa. We remember military officers executed over alleged coup plots. We remember political detainees sent to rot in prison,” he said.

The activist also questioned Baba-Ahmed’s description of Babangida as a “revered former Nigerian leader,” asking whose reverence was being referenced.

“Datti is entitled to revere him. Millions of Nigerians are equally entitled to remember his disastrous rule differently,” he said.

Sowore further rejected the argument that criticism of Babangida amounted to cruelty towards an elderly man.

He said he could distinguish between respect for Babangida’s humanity and scrutiny of his political record, adding that Nigerians should not be compelled to celebrate a former ruler simply because he had reached an advanced age.

Sowore also took exception to Baba-Ahmed’s personal references to his possible future circumstances, including suggestions involving alcohol, drugs, imprisonment and intensive care. He described such remarks as contradictory to a message centred on compassion and humanity.

The activist said he had already experienced detention because of his political activism and insisted that Baba-Ahmed did not need to speculate about such experiences.

Sowore also challenged Baba-Ahmed’s question about where he would be at the age of 85. He said he did not know whether he would live to that age, but maintained that Nigerians would have the right to scrutinise his own record if he ever exercised significant public power.

“If I betray the democratic will of Nigerians, they should say so. If I impoverish people through disastrous policies, they should say so. If I violate their rights, they should say so,” he said, that public officials should remain accountable regardless of their age, status or political connections.

Sowore said the same principle should apply to every Nigerian leader, arguing that public power carries a responsibility to the people and leaves a record that cannot simply be erased by time.

‘Growing Old Is Not Immunity From History’

Sowore rejected Baba-Ahmed’s suggestion that people like him seeking political power constituted a danger to Nigeria.

Instead, he argued that the greater danger was a political culture that continually rehabilitates controversial leaders, protects privilege and discourages scrutiny of powerful individuals.

According to him, Nigeria’s problem is not citizens who question former rulers but a system that encourages Nigerians to worship political figures rather than hold them accountable.

He said his opposition to the political establishment was based on systems, institutions and accountability rather than personal hatred.

“My Politics has never been about hatred of individuals. It is about systems. It is about accountability. It is about institutions that work for all citizens regardless of class or social status,” he said.

Sowore maintained that Nigerians should be free to assess the records of former leaders without being accused of disrespecting them.

He said Baba-Ahmed was entitled to respect Babangida, just as he was entitled to call President Bola Tinubu “Uncle,” but should not expect other Nigerians to surrender their memories or opinions in the name of compassion.

“Respect is earned; accountability is mandatory,” Sowore said.

He concluded by insisting that Nigeria must stop treating former leaders as untouchable figures and instead develop a culture in which public officials are judged by their records.

“Growing old is a privilege. It is not immunity from history. Ni​geria must stop worshipping its rulers and start holding them accountable. That is not hatred. That is how a serious country learns from its past and builds a different future,” he said.