Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has revealed why he cannot stand former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, blaming his administration for what he described as the beginning of Nigeria’s education decline.
Sowore made the remarks while responding to questions during an interview on an X programme, ‘Nix: Outside the Box.’
According to him, Obasanjo’s tenure was the period he gained admission into the university, and it was also the era he believes Nigeria’s education system started deteriorating.
Sowore: “I Have Never Met Any President”
Sowore stated that he has never visited Aso Rock or met any Nigerian president while in power — including Obasanjo.
“I have never been to Aso Rock before. I have never met any President in power before, not even Obasanjo,” he said.
Blames Obasanjo for Education Decline
The activist further said Obasanjo is one of the political figures he cannot tolerate due to what he called the damage done to education during that era.
“Obasanjo is probably one of the people I can’t even stand because of what we knew about him before we went to the university,” Sowore said.
He referenced the popular phrase “Ali Must Go,” describing it as part of the pressure that pushed many young Nigerians to rush into higher institutions before things got worse.
“Part of the reasons we were rushing to the university was that Ali must go, and it was Obasanjo period. It was from that period that he started destroying the education system,” he added.
“I Don’t Even Know How His Face Looks”
Sowore also claimed he has never been close enough to Obasanjo to even recognise him physically.
“To come back to the nature of power, I don’t even know how his face looks,” he said.
Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s civilian President from 1999 to 2007, after previously ruling as military Head of State.
