NEWS
“WHEN THEY WERE TAKING HIM TO SOKOTO, THEY THOUGHT THEY WILL RIDICULE HIM… HE HAS TURNED SOKOTO TO ANOTHER MECCA” — ACTIVIST, OMOYELE SOWORE SLAMS NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT OVER NNAMDI KANU’S TRANSFER
In a strongly worded address to journalists earlier today, Tuesday, December 2, 2025, activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, sharply criticized the federal government’s handling of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Speaking during a press briefing, Sowore dissected what he described as a miscalculated and counterproductive strategy by authorities who believed that relocating Kanu to a prison facility in Sokoto would shrink his influence and subject him to public ridicule.
According to Sowore, the government had assumed that distance and isolation would silence Kanu’s symbolic presence. Instead, he argued, the move has produced the opposite effect, amplifying attention and drawing unprecedented solidarity from supporters across the country.
Sowore noted that the situation in Sokoto has transformed into a symbolic pilgrimage ground, attracting sympathizers and turning the city into a place of continuous convergence for those demanding Kanu’s release. This outcome, he said, confirms earlier predictions that relocating the IPOB leader to a far-flung region would not weaken the movement nor reduce public interest.
In Sowore’s own words:
“When they were taking him to Sokoto, they thought they will ridicule him. When he got there, he has turned Sokoto to another Mecca. That’s exactly what we predicted.”
He stressed that the government clearly underestimated the depth of loyalty within Kanu’s followership, as well as the broader emotional and political energy surrounding his detention.
Sowore further made a pointed reference to Justice Omotosho, offering what appeared to be a bold and symbolic gesture. Reinforcing his familiarity with the environment surrounding Kanu’s detention, he stated:
“But if he wants to go, tell him to contact me. I will arrange his safe passage to Sokoto.”
His comment underscored not only his confidence but also his firm stance on the ongoing controversy surrounding the IPOB leader’s trial and treatment.
Sowore’s briefing adds yet another dimension to the escalating national conversation on the handling of Nnamdi Kanu’s case, one that continues to draw intense public scrutiny, political debate, and passionate reactions across the country.