Omoyele Sowore Reacts After Abacha Family Said That Nigeria Has Been Worse Than Abacha Left It

On June 8, 2025, coinciding with the 27th anniversary of General Sani Abacha’s death, political activist Omoyele Sowore sparked a heated online debate with a striking social media post.

The post featured an image of Abacha, a former Nigerian military dictator, overlaid with crossed-out text reading “Nigeria is worse than you left it,” directly addressing claims by the Abacha family that the nation’s current condition under President Bola Tinubu exceeds the difficulties of Abacha’s rule (1993-1998).

Here is what he wrote on his official X handle

Sowore, known for his critical stance on Nigerian governance, used the anniversary to challenge this perspective. Abacha’s tenure is widely remembered for human rights violations, including the execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, and allegations of embezzling $2-5 billion, as documented in a 2002 World Bank report.

The post has elicited diverse reactions, with some social media users suggesting that today’s economic and governance challenges may parallel or surpass those of the past, while others argue for the benefits of democracy established post-military rule.