Oshiomhole’s ‘Hidden Agenda’: Sowore Claims Fuel Price Deal With Babangida, Obasanjo

Oshiomhole’s ‘Hidden Agenda’: Sowore Claims Fuel Price Deal With Babangida, Obasanjo

Omoyele Sowore, a Nigerian human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, has sharply criticized Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State and ex-president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), for what he describes as Oshiomhole’s lack…CONTINUE READING…

of genuine activism. Sowore made these claims during a recent podcast on Glitch Africa Studios, where he accused Oshiomhole of being an “Agaracha” (fake) labor leader.

Sowore alleged that Oshiomhole collaborated with former Nigerian military ruler Ibrahim Babangida in 1992 to implement the first fuel price hike in the country, a move that, according to Sowore, exposed Oshiomhole’s true political inclinations. Sowore argued that despite Oshiomhole’s public persona as a labor leader, his actions consistently undermined the core values of activism.

Sowore further stated that Oshiomhole’s support for fuel price hikes demonstrated his prioritization of alliances with government leaders over the well-being of ordinary Nigerians. He recalled how Oshiomhole, alongside another labor leader, Pascal Bafial, struck a deal with Babangida to increase fuel prices, a decision that Sowore condemned.

The activist also pointed out that Oshiomhole’s actions during the pro-democracy movement were questionable, noting that he was one of the few labor leaders who stayed in Abuja during military rule while many activists fled. Sowore said Oshiomhole’s actions during that period were a form of “organized outrage,” designed to give the illusion of opposition without challenging the status quo.

Sowore continued by alleging that Oshiomhole, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, would meet with the president and negotiate fuel price increases, with an understanding that protests would be minimal. He also raised concerns about the lack of consequences for Oshiomhole’s controversial leadership, questioning why he was never arrested or detained like other prominent activists at the time, suggesting that any such detention would have been “arranged.”