In a recent hard-hitting interview with Fatshimetrie, the founder of online news agency Sahara Reporters revealed shocking truths about Nigeria’s ruling class and their relentless efforts to sabotage the credibility of other sincere candidates in their insatiable thirst for power.
In this exclusive interview with Sowore, the activist revealed controversies surrounding prominent political figures such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku, Obi, and others.
There seems to be some misunderstanding about the meaning of the RevolutionNow movement. Could you explain to Nigerians what this means and what it seeks to achieve?
I am very clear about this. There are no two definitions of revolution. A revolution is an event or series of events ending a system of oppression.
So our revolution is the same one that has happened elsewhere, where people are standing up and saying enough is enough. They want to take a different direction, a different momentum in governance, and the only difference in our case is that we have not organized a bloody revolution.
We wanted this to be done by peaceful means, that’s the only difference. Even when I was arrested, detained and questioned about my intentions. I have been very clear that the revolution I want is the one that will put an end to all this nonsense. Thus, a new political order can emerge transferring power from those who steal from the people to those who deserve good governance and a better life in this country. This is what a revolution is everywhere, and this is what I still preach today. I just said RevolutionNow because I want it to happen now.
Tell us about your political ideology and how it differs from those of the Progressive Alliance (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labor Party (LP), and others.
I am one of the first politicians to put my ideology in writing, I have a website and social media accounts where I expose this ideology. I have videos on YouTube where I openly explain my positions, which are in no way related to the APC or PDP.
When other political candidates were fighting for the removal of fuel subsidies, I was against it, as was the tariff increase.
I support minimum wage, but I call it a living wage. In 2018, I offered a salary of N100,000, and people were laughing at me, and now I have been validated. So, I am clearly a welfarist. I support the welfare of the public, the people of Nigeria, from the perspective of a socialist democrat. I lean toward socialism, where the people’s wealth should go directly to them.
In a recent tweet, you mentioned that 44-year-old Senegalese Bassirou Diomaye Faye won the presidential elections. You noted that you don’t have to be a seasoned politician to become president. Many have advised you to run for Senate or perhaps for governor of your state. What is your response to these tips?
What underlies the story you have just presented is that young people in Nigeria do not have the same ambition as young people in Senegal.
Young people in Nigeria want to become personal assistants and special advisors. That’s their goal. I don’t have this goal. My goal is to liberate the country. I understand all that needs to be done to turn Nigeria around.
So, I can’t compete with those who have an inferiority complex, who don’t believe they are good enough to become president.
They sent people to the Senate in the last election. What have their senators done besides receiving SUVs? Do you understand my point? So this argument is fruitless. It makes no sense because we are reminded in Sierra Leone that you do not have to be a governor to become a president. We are reminded in the United States that Donald Trump (not my favorite person) was not a senator before he became president. He was not governor of any state. He never led any municipality.
So, countries looking for liberating leaders do not make such speeches. They are looking for people with character, skills, education and the willingness to guide them.
So, they are not looking for the experience that got you to where you are today. If experience were to count, then the most experienced politicians in Nigeria would be Obasanjo and Buhari. What did their experience allow you to accomplish?
But guess what? The same people who make this argument would happily welcome anyone, with no experience, to win an election in another country.
Like in Ukraine where an actor is president. The president of France was in his 30s when he became president. Thus, they defend the discourse that corresponds to their own limits, and cannot stand people like us who do not think in terms of limits, but of progress.
Which electoral reform would you propose is best for Nigeria?