Omoyele Sowore
Omoyele Sowore is a Nigerian Human Rights Activist, pro-democracy campaigner, founder of online news agency Sahara Reporters, and a 2019 Nigeria Presidential candidate for African Action Congress (AAC). He was born on 16 February 1971 in Ese-Odo, Ondo State in South West Nigeria.
Sowore was one of the presidential candidates in the Nigeria election of 2019. He got a bit over 30,000 votes and in a total vote of over 20 million.
Also See: Take It Back Movement Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plans to Assassinate Sowore in Prison
After the election, he along some other Take It Back activists planned a staged Revolution protest against the Federal government. He was subsequently arrested by the Directorate of the State Security Services and has been in detention since August 2019. An Abuja court granted him bail under stiff conditions.
Sowore met this conditions but the DSS kept him in their detention against the ruling of the court. Justice Ojukwu on November 5, gave an order for DSS to release Sowore within 24 hours, which the DSS complied with for his arraignment on December 6.
Also See: BREAKING: Court Grants DSS Permission to Detain Sowore For 45 Days
After the ruling of the court for commencement of trial for February 11, there was a mild drama between the DSS operatives and Sowore supporters as the DSS attempted to rearrest Sowore.
He was rearrested and detained for undisclosed reasons.
Sowore was one of the presidential candidates in the Nigeria election of 2019. He got a bit over 30,000 votes and in a total vote of over 20 million.
Also See: Take It Back Movement Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plans to Assassinate Sowore in Prison
After the election, he along some other Take It Back activists planned a staged Revolution protest against the Federal government. He was subsequently arrested by the Directorate of the State Security Services and has been in detention since August 2019. An Abuja court granted him bail under stiff conditions.
Sowore met this conditions but the DSS kept him in their detention against the ruling of the court. Justice Ojukwu on November 5, gave an order for DSS to release Sowore within 24 hours, which the DSS complied with for his arraignment on December 6.
Also See: BREAKING: Court Grants DSS Permission to Detain Sowore For 45 Days
After the ruling of the court for commencement of trial for February 11, there was a mild drama between the DSS operatives and Sowore supporters as the DSS attempted to rearrest Sowore.
He was rearrested and detained for undisclosed reasons.
Sowore was also raised in a polygamous home with sixteen children. At the age of 12, he learnt how to ride a motorcycle so that he could fish at the lake to take care of his entire family before going to school every morning.
He studied Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1995 with his academic program extended by two extra years after being expelled twice for political reasons and student activism. He was the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government between 1992 and 1994 where he was keenly involved in anti-cultism and anti-corruption advocacy. He also holds a Master degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.
Also See: Ilorin Court Awards N4BN Payment to Saraki Against Sahara Reporters
Sowore's passion and desire in media was propelled during the military rule in Nigeria.
In 1989, he took part in student demonstrations protesting the conditions of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan of $120 million to be used for a Nigerian oil pipeline. Among the conditions of the IMF loan were to reduce the number of universities in the country from 28 to 5.
Sowore led 5,100 students in protest against the Nigerian government in 1992. The protest resulted in police opening fire and seven being killed. Sowore was arrested and tortured. Omoyele was also involved in the demand for democratic government taking over military rule in June 12, 1993. This resulted in several arrests, detentions and life threatening treatment by government officials.
He left Nigeria in 1999 for America.
Sowore started Sahara Reporters in a small room in Manhattan in 2006 to fight corruption and wrong government practices. Sahara Reporters is supported by grants donated by the Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation. As part of its policy, the medium does not accept adverts and financial support from the Nigerian government.
Sahara Reporters became an international household name in December 2006 when the online media became the first to publish the photo of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Since then it has published over 5000 stories and has a massive follower-ship in Nigeria and across the world.
Also See: Sowore Received Millions of Dollars to Topple Buhari Government, DSS Alleges in Fresh Court Documents
Sowore's passion and desire in media was propelled during the military rule in Nigeria.
In 1989, he took part in student demonstrations protesting the conditions of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan of $120 million to be used for a Nigerian oil pipeline. Among the conditions of the IMF loan were to reduce the number of universities in the country from 28 to 5. Sowore led 5,100 students in protest against the Nigerian government in 1992. The protest resulted in police opening fire and seven being killed. Sowore was arrested and tortured. Omoyele was also involved in the demand for democratic government taking over military rule in June 12, 1993. This resulted in several arrests, detentions and life threatening treatment by government officials.
He left Nigeria in 1999 for America.
Sowore started Sahara Reporters in a small room in Manhattan in 2006 to fight corruption and wrong government practices. Sahara Reporters is supported by grants donated by the Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation. As part of its policy, the medium does not accept adverts and financial support from the Nigerian government.Sahara Reporters became an international household name in December 2006 when the online media became the first to publish the photo of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Since then it has published over 5000 stories and has a massive follower-ship in Nigeria and across the world.
Also See: Sowore Received Millions of Dollars to Topple Buhari Government, DSS Alleges in Fresh Court Documents
Sowore practice citizen journalism in New York where he is protected by the First Amendment Rights, he receives several news tips and leads from reporters in Nigeria whose editors are afraid to use their controversial stories. He usually resume work at midnight New York time when many Nigerians are already up and about.
He also teaches Modern African History at the City University of New York and Post Colonial African History at the School of Art, New York.
Also See: MUST WATCH VIDEO: Heavily-Armed DSS Operatives Chase Falana as he Drives Sowore, Bakare out of Court Premises
Sahara Reporters is believe to be worth over $10 Million, making Sowore a very wealthy man.
On February 25, 2018, Sowore announced his intention to run for president in the 2019 Nigerian general election. In August 2018, he founded a political party, the African Action Congress (AAC), for which he will run for president in 2019.
On October 6, 2018, following successful primary elections at the AAC's national convention, Omoyele Sowore emerged unchallenged as the Presidential Candidate for the party. After touring many states in Nigeria, visiting dignitaries such as the Emir of Kano and Wole Soyinka, Sowore embarked on a fundraising tour around the world including Australia, the United States of America and the UK. He was in Luton (London) on the 10th of November, 2018.
Sowore flouted debate rules of engagement through naming and shaming corrupt members of the opposition party.
Sowore is happily married and he has children.
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