Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has strongly criticized Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for what he described as a dishonest take on the 2012 fuel subsidy protests.
The backlash came after Obi questioned the motivation behind the protests during the Goodluck Jonathan era, despite today’s harsher economic climate under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The controversy began on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, during a memorial lecture in Abuja held in honour of late elder statesman, Pa Edwin Clark.
Peter Obi, while addressing the audience, expressed concern over the silence of past protest leaders, especially as the country battles rising economic hardship under Tinubu’s leadership.
Among the most vocal responses was from Sowore, who took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) account to defend the 2012 protests.
He accused Obi of trying to rewrite history and protect his political alliances.
“I have repeatedly stated that Peter Obi’s stance is questionably and patently dishonest if not outrightly DUMB,” Sowore wrote.
“He seems to imply that protests against @GEJonathan’s economic policies were unnecessary, given his role as an Economic Adviser in that administration.
They were all supporting themselves by looting Nigeria dry including the role of his Fidelity Bank assisting Diezani to move hard cold cash.”
Sowore further questioned Obi’s moral authority, stating that the former governor’s economic ties to the past government disqualified him from casting judgment on others.
He added, “However, this raises concerns about his perspective on the current wicked Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT regime.
If he believes protests are unwarranted under @GEJonathan, why should Tinubu’s handlers not hold the same view?”
According to Sowore, Obi’s comment undermined the struggles of ordinary citizens who put their lives on the line.
Moreover, Sowore criticised the ‘Obidient’ movement, accusing it of failing to take action on key issues.
“If protesters against @GEJonathan’s policies have lost steam, or the former protesters sold out, what prevents his Obidient movement from initiating new protests?”
He pointed out that Obi’s supporters did not protest the 2023 presidential election results, which they claimed he won.
“Nor did they participate in the #EndBadGovernance protests in 2024, claiming it was set up by ‘controlled opposition,’” he added.
Sowore did not stop there. He accused Obi’s movement of staying silent on the Naira redesign policy, despite the role of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
“Even with the fuel price hikes he is speaking about here, there was not a time he ever led or encouraged Nigerians to oppose it.”
He also claimed that Obi’s movement, which he sarcastically referred to as the GBAJUE movement, had done nothing but “gaslight other Nigerians,” especially those who didn’t support his political mission.
“Since the establishment of his GBAJUE movt, not once has anything been done other than inaction or gaslighting other Nigerians, especially those who rightly didn’t support his political agenda,” he said.
“They are all now back in @OfficialAPCNg including his closest lieutenants. These events have exposed their false claim about their commitment to driving change.”
In conclusion, Sowore likened Obi’s actions to those who benefit from the struggles of others without participating in them.
“Like #EndSARS, he is hoping to benefit from the sweat and blood of others without a finger raised to challenge injustice even against his own ‘Obidient’ members. OPPORTUNISTS!”
