Sowore Blasts Kogi Gov Ododo Over Coup Claim Against ‘TakeItBack’ Protests

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, has sharply berated Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, for his comments regarding the recent #EndBadGovernance protests held from August 1 to 10, 2024.

Recall that the protests, which began peacefully, degenerated to violence in several northern states.

Governor Ododo, in a viral video, spoke on the protests, suggesting that they were part of a broader attempt to destabilise and overthrow the government at the centre. His remarks have sparked controversy, particularly among supporters of the TakeItBack Movement, one of the organisers of the protests, which Sowore has been actively involved in.

In the video shared on Sowore’s X (formerly Twitter) page, Ododo cautioned against destructive actions. He said, “We should not allow ourselves to be deceived, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be agents of destruction, destroying ourselves and the land. The name ‘TakeItBack Movement’ has been hijacked by somebody. If you look at the last protest, it was an attempted coup to take over government at the centre. Probably by now, me and you would be running helter-skelter. Please don’t allow yourself to be used. If you have grievances, any observation, let’s engage in father, son, brother engagement.”

But, reacting to Ododo’s claims on his X page, Sowore condemned the governor’s comments, accusing Ododo of corruption and obstructing the course of justice. He added that the governor’s public conduct was one of the triggers for revolution in the country. “The Ododo of Kogi: A misfit linked to financial irregularities, hindering and obstructing justice, and claiming stakeholder status. This moron and others like him highlight the need for systemic change – a REVOLUTION – in Nigeria’s governance. #TakeItBack #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.”