In a sharp and uncompromising message that lit up Nigeria’s political space, activist and African Action Congress (AAC) chieftain Omoyele Sowore has warned President Bola Tinubu not to “mistakenly” include his name on any national award list — or risk a defamation lawsuit.
On Friday, June 13, 2025, the #RevolutionNow convener took to social media with a fiery post that doubled as both a preemptive rejection and a legal threat.
“If I were mistakenly included by Tinubu on his ‘National Award’ list, I would not only reject and denounce the award but also take definitive legal action for defamation,” Sowore declared.
National Recognition? Not Interested.
The warning comes just a day after President Tinubu rolled out a slate of national awards on Democracy Day, honouring over 60 notable Nigerians. Among them were iconic figures such as Prof. Wole Soyinka (GCON), Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (CON), and the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, who along with the Ogoni Eight, received posthumous honours and state pardons—decades after their execution by the Abacha regime for environmental activism.
While many hailed the gesture as a long-overdue acknowledgement of democratic heroes, Sowore saw it differently: as political whitewashing.
Not in My Name: The Politics of Rejection
Known for his unyielding criticism of the Tinubu-led APC government, Sowore has consistently painted the administration as corrupt, repressive, and disconnected from grassroots realities. He has refused bail conditions linked to Tinubu, denounced government policies, and led major protests demanding systemic change.
This latest declaration fits into Sowore’s larger anti-establishment narrative. Accepting an award, he implied, would be tantamount to legitimizing a regime he believes has failed the people.
Lawsuit Over an Award? Yes, If It’s From the ‘Wrong Hands’
Legal experts say Sowore’s threat to sue for defamation over a national honour is unusual but not implausible. His claim would likely rest on the moral and reputational damage of being aligned—even symbolically—with a government he’s vocally opposed for years.
To Sowore, the issue isn’t just political—it’s personal. It’s about ownership of legacy and refusing to be used for optics or reconciliation he never agreed to.
A Final Word: “Don’t Even Try It”
Whether Sowore’s name was ever in contention for a national award remains unknown. But in this era of performative gestures and political theatre, one thing is clear: he wants no part of it.
His message to the presidency was unflinching:
No handshakes. No headlines. No honours. And definitely, no silence.
