- Sowore, as a student leader in 1993, rejected ₦800,000 from MKO Abiola during a meeting about Nigeria’s democratic struggle
- The encounter, Sowore’s only meeting with Abiola, symbolizes his long-standing commitment to political integrity and accountability in Nigeria
Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 election, recently shared a story about rejecting a large sum of money from the late Chief MKO Abiola.
The incident occurred in 1993, shortly after the June 12 presidential election annulment, which Abiola is widely regarded to have won.
At that time, Sowore was a 21-year-old student union leader at the University of Lagos, actively involved in protests against the annulment by General Ibrahim Babangida’s military regime.
Sowore shared this experience on the Honest Bunch podcast. He recalled leading a delegation to meet Abiola and asking if he was genuinely committed to the struggle for Nigeria’s democracy.
According to Sowore, during their meeting, Abiola offered him ₦800,000 for “transportation,” which Sowore declined. Sowore noted that he wanted to know if Abiola was prepared to sacrifice for the cause, as Sowore and his fellow student leaders were.
During the meeting, he observed that many politicians seemed more interested in Abiola’s money than his vision. Sowore cautioned Abiola that these same politicians might eventually betray him.
Sowore recounted that when Abiola presented him with the ₦800,000, he refused to accept it, saying it wouldn’t solve the core issues they were fighting for.
Despite Abiola’s insistence, Sowore declined the money, making some people uncomfortable.
Reflecting on the encounter, Sowore described it as his only meeting with Abiola, during which John Momoh, now the owner of Channels Television, took a photograph.
The meeting remains a significant memory for Sowore, symbolizing his long-standing commitment to fighting for integrity and accountability in Nigeria’s politics.