Sowore: Calling Failed Politicians ‘Your Excellencies’ a Social Disease

 

 

Sowore: Calling Failed Politicians ‘Your Excellencies’ a Social Disease

 

 

 

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the culture of addressing underperforming politicians in Nigeria as “Your Excellencies,” describing it as a “social disease.”

 

In a post on X on Saturday, Sowore faulted Nigerians for celebrating leaders who fail to deliver on their basic responsibilities.

 

“Nigerians often refer to individuals who are incapable of accomplishing the simplest of tasks as ‘Your Excellencies.’ That in itself is a social disease,” he wrote.

 

The activist, a consistent critic of the political class, accused leaders of weaponising poverty, entrenching corruption, and thriving on empty titles and sycophancy rather than genuine service.

 

His comments came days after a confrontation with the Department of State Services (DSS), which issued him a one-week ultimatum to retract remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

 

In a letter dated September 7, signed by the DSS Director of Legal Services, Uwem Davies, the agency accused Sowore of making “false, malicious and derogatory” comments in an August 26 post where he claimed Tinubu lied in Brazil by declaring that corruption no longer existed under his administration.

 

The DSS insisted that Sowore’s words amounted to an attack on national security and public order, warning that they could “incite public disturbance, disunity, and even insurrection.”

 

The agency directed him to:

 

Withdraw his comments on X with the same visibility,

 

Issue a public apology in at least two national dailies and two television stations, and

 

Submit a formal representation to its headquarters in Abuja or via email within one week.

 

 

The DSS warned that failure to comply would compel it to “explore all lawful means to protect national security and public order.”