From Collapse to Chaos: Sowore Says Tinubu is Burying Nigeria Alive

In a scathing rebuke that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has declared that Nigerians made a \"grave mistake\" electing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, warning that the country is plummeting toward total collapse faster than ever before.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Sowore, the fiery leader of the Revolution Now movement and the African Action Congress (AAC) flagbearer in the 2023 elections, minced no words in comparing the current administration to that of former President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Sowore, if Buhari spent eight years destroying Nigeria, Tinubu is on track to bury it in just two.

“Nigerians made a grave mistake voting Bola Tinubu into office. Buhari killed Nigeria in eight years; Tinubu came, in two years he is burying it,” Sowore said, painting a grim picture of a nation not just in distress, but on the edge of democratic disintegration.

At the heart of Sowore’s criticisms are economic policies that he claims have devastated ordinary Nigerians and widened the chasm of inequality. He lambasted the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira—two signature moves by Tinubu’s administration—as catastrophic failures that have left the common man gasping for survival amid soaring costs and crumbling services.

“There’s nothing good coming from this. Removing fuel subsidy, floating the naira—none of it benefits the people. If they say this is the hard road to prosperity, I say it’s the road to destruction,” he said, his voice thick with disdain.

But Sowore’s concerns go beyond the economy. He warned of a deeper erosion—one that threatens the very soul of the nation: its democracy. According to him, Nigerians are growing disillusioned with a political system that seems incapable of reform, one that has betrayed the promise of free speech, credible elections, and the fundamental right to choose their leaders.

“What Nigerians are whispering—dangerously—is that they no longer believe in democracy. Free speech, credible elections, the freedom to choose—those promises have been broken. What we have now is a shambolic democracy,” he declared.

Adding fuel to the fire, Sowore took aim at a proposed law in the House of Representatives seeking to make voting compulsory. He condemned the idea as an authoritarian move designed to artificially inflate voter turnout and legitimize a corrupt system.

“If you have to use threats to force people to vote, then democracy is dead. That’s not participation—it’s coercion,” he warned.

The AAC chieftain went further, casting serious doubt on the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system. In his view, the 2027 general elections are already rigged before ballots are even printed.

“The 2027 results are already written. The only thing that can change Nigeria is rebellion against the system, not against democracy,” he said, drawing a stark line between resistance and anarchy.

Sowore didn’t spare the opposition either. When asked about figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi—both of whom remain active voices in the political arena—he scoffed at the notion that they represent real alternatives. In his assessment, they are part of the same broken machinery they claim to oppose.

“Most of them are just political mercenaries looking for the best-paying camp. They don’t represent real opposition, they represent failed ideologies,” he stated.

He also reiterated his call for the resignation of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, noting that his campaign for police reform has already led to the dismissal of over 1,000 illegally retained senior officers and long-overdue promotions. But for Sowore, these small wins aren’t enough.

“The goal remains to get the IGP to resign, he’s overstayed,” he said plainly.

Turning his sights again on Atiku Abubakar, a perennial figure in Nigeria’s presidential contests, Sowore didn’t hold back. “Atiku is a man whose time has passed. He’s just hanging around, still hoping to be President,” he said, suggesting that clinging to power is now more about ego than vision.

When asked about being labeled a radical, Sowore wore the tag as a badge of honor. “Every meaningful change in this world came through so-called radicals. I won’t dilute my convictions to appease the elite. The people who suffer the most in this country know where I stand—and they agree,” he asserted.

With Democracy Day around the corner, many Nigerians are expected to reflect on the country’s political journey with a mix of pride and cautious optimism. But Sowore’s blistering critique cuts through the celebratory mood like a siren, warning of darker times ahead unless urgent action is taken to reverse course.

“When Tinubu is done with this country, Nigerians will be begging to return to Buhari’s era. That should terrify everyone,” he concluded.

Sowore\'s words may not sit well with those in power, but they resonate with millions of frustrated citizens grappling with inflation, insecurity, and a political class seemingly more interested in self-preservation than nation-building. As the government prepares to mark another year of democracy, the stark contrast between official rhetoric and the raw pain of the people has never been more apparent.

In a nation teetering between hope and hopelessness, Sowore’s warnings echo with the weight of history—and a challenge to all who still believe in the possibility of a better Nigeria.