“A proud man is on a highway driving you to a revolution, but you still haven’t gotten the message yet. But he will make it happen because nobody, and I mean it, this country cannot escape a revolution at this time,”
Former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, on Thursday declared that Nigeria is on an inevitable path toward revolution, warning that the country has reached a critical tipping point marked by deep contradictions and public disillusionment.Nigerian government news
Sowore made the remarks while speaking at the 5th Anniversary of Comrade Yinka Odumakin’s Lecture, held at Osun Hall, Airport Hotel on April 2, 2026.
The lecture, themed “Can Nigeria’s Democracy Work Without Restructuring?” drew activists, civil society leaders, and political stakeholders.
In a deeply reflective and philosophical address, Sowore began by questioning the tone of the gathering, noting the contradiction in describing the moment as one of goodwill.
“We’re supposed to give a goodwill message, but it’s difficult to give a goodwill message at a place where you are celebrating the death of one of your most important comrades,” he said. “What are we going to say? That we are happy that he died? Of course not. So maybe we should change the words from goodwill to something else in the future, where it’s a solemn moment for us.”
He described the anniversary as one of the saddest periods for those who knew the late activist, reflecting on mortality in philosophical terms.
He reflected on the cycle of life and death, noting that after death, the body returns to the elements, air, water, and solid matter. He expressed comfort in the cosmic perspective, believing that ultimately, humans return to the universe and, in essence, become stars again.
“But the only thing I’m happy about is cosmic. That the only way we go after we die is that we go to the galaxy, big way. And when we turn back to who we are originally, we are stars,” he said.
Sowore added, “And at night, you guys can go out and look up in the sky, looking for the Sowore star. That’s all I want. I, I don’t want to be remembered for anything because it doesn’t matter to me at that point. And I’ll be looking down on you, hoping that you make your world a better place.”
However, Sowore warned that Nigeria is on the brink of revolutionary upheaval, insisting that the signs are already evident.
“A proud man is on a highway driving you to a revolution, but you still haven’t gotten the message yet. But he will make it happen because nobody, and I mean it, this country cannot escape a revolution at this time,” he declared.
He further stated that regardless of whether he witnesses it, the outcome is inevitable.
“And whether I’m around when it happens or not, just remember that I told you so, that the most important duty as president of Nigeria is to drive this country into a revolutionary destination where he himself,” he said.
In a direct reference to the current administration, Sowore said President Bola Tinubu and members of his government embody the warning signs of an impending uprising.
According him, the president and his cronies will drive the country “into a revolutionary destination where he himself and rest of his colleagues, friends, his agencies, his ministers are signs of a country that’s awaiting revolution”.
“Any country where you see people celebrating and lucrative sale of expertise is a country awaiting revolution,” he added.
He concluded with a call to action, urging Nigerians to recognise the urgency of the moment.
“We have deceived ourselves; enough, ladies and gentlemen. We have already reached the place. It’s now up to us to step forward and make it happen. Thank you. Revolution now,” he said.
