By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore has asserted that he has experienced more arrests under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than during the country’s military regimes, reigniting discussions surrounding civil liberties and democratic tolerance. Speaking at a civic forum in Abuja, Sowore highlighted the repeated detentions, surveillance, and legal harassment he has faced since May 2023, contrasting today’s “supposed democracy” with the overt authoritarianism of past military rulers.
While the Presidency maintains that law enforcement actions are legally justified, critics argue that the frequent arrests of protest leaders risk fostering perceptions of democratic backsliding. Legal scholars emphasise that the true measure of democracy lies in how dissent is treated rather than in rewards for loyalty.
Data indicate that protest-related arrests remain prevalent, with authorities citing security concerns and procedural issues as justifications. However, activists contend that constitutional rights to peaceful assembly are being increasingly curtailed.
Sowore’s assertion, whether symbolic or empirical, underscores Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to balance public order with freedom of expression and the preservation of civic space.
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