Can I call Sowore my friend? I should think so. I have him on WhatsApp and he used to be a member of the Duke Summit before his famous incarceration. When he was freed, he refused to come back which is ok by me because I really would not like to be called in by ‘Men in Black’ for anything. You see me so, I no get power for all that detention thing. No Afang, no sex, no phone. Mbok, just leave me.
So that is how I encountered Sowore on WhatsApp one day. I had been receiving his broadcast, calling for revolution, protest, crusade; all the things he usually likes calling for and decided to engage him.
I said “Bro, don’t you think you should change tactics. This crusade, protest, street fighting and all, e no dey work o. You are gradually crying yourself into irrelevance. Soon if you no take time na Youth Corps, DSS dem go dey send to come carry you o.”
As expected, he no gree. He said “No. You don’t understand, we have to flush these people out.” I asked him “where is your power? Your pull has waned. Even Davido is pulling more crowds than you in this sector. See EndSARS dey even drive you comot. Where is your power when you can only pull six people to your crusade?
He still no gree. “The struggle continues.”
I just shook my head: this one still dey UNILAG mode, so I left him.
You see, Sowore’s folly is plenty. His Sahara Reporter platform is really not helping his cause with its often colourful reporting and his strategy is becoming weak by the day. I begged him to re-engage the democratic process. I begged him to try the Senate and take the battle within. He said it was an insult, so I kept quiet.
You see, the system is entrenched. We have structures that cannot be pulled down by wearing jeans and painting your face black and be shouting under the bridge. We need serious agitators that will discuss the issues — economic, political and social. We need people that will engage the process and use it to achieve a purpose for the greater good.
I have never heard Sowore or his ilk talk about economic issues or the political misogynism going on. It’s always “we no go gree, we no go gree. They have beat me o, God will punish them o.”
Let’s pull back, re-strategize and re-engage using democratic processes and institutions to take power.
Much as I hate saying this, Tinubu did it and that is why he is king today. God bless you my brother.
