Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has reacted sharply to the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, condemning what he described as a “legacy of tyranny and bloodshed.”
While tributes pour in from many Nigerians mourning the late leader, who passed away on Sunday in London, Sowore has called out what he sees as widespread hypocrisy in the rush to celebrate Buhari posthumously.
In a strongly worded post on Facebook, Sowore criticized Buhari’s time in office, accusing him of gross human rights abuses, economic destruction, and authoritarianism.
“Buhari slaughtered hundreds of Shiites, men, women, and children,” he wrote. “He ordered soldiers to open fire on peaceful EndSARS protesters waving the Nigerian flag in 2020.”
Sowore went further to allege that Buhari played a role in the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, also known as Dadiyata, a vocal government critic who went missing under mysterious circumstances in 2019.
“He ‘disappeared’ Dadiyata,” the activist claimed.
The outspoken critic also pointed to the military operations against pro-Biafra supporters in the South-East, alleging that the former president orchestrated mass killings under the pretext of quelling IPOB agitation.
“He jailed critics unlawfully, ignored court rulings, crashed the economy, and destroyed everything he touched,” Sowore added.
“And now some want us to forget all that because he’s dead? Shameful. NO, we do not mourn tyrants. We remember their victims.”
Sowore’s remarks echo similar sentiments shared by other dissenting voices, including Yoruba Nation campaigner, Sunday Igboho, who also recalled Buhari’s controversial actions while in power.
Buhari’s body is expected to be flown to Nigeria for burial in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, later today.