SUNTV Global Channel News
Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has dismissed allegations that his activism and journalism are funded by Western governments, insisting that his work has always been motivated by personal conviction and a commitment to fighting corruption and injustice.
Speaking during an interview on PAPShow, Sowore said claims that he receives financial support from foreign governments are false and have followed him throughout his years as a student activist, journalist and politician.
According to him, many Nigerians assume he is backed by Western interests because he lived in the United States for about two decades and founded SaharaReporters there. However, he maintained that there is no truth to the allegations.
Sowore said individuals who consistently challenge those in authority are often subjected to propaganda, conspiracy theories and false accusations aimed at discrediting their work.
Reflecting on his years in activism, he noted that similar accusations were made against him while he was a university student in the 1990s, despite not having any international connections at the time.
The activist also recalled that different political groups had, at various times, accused him of working for their opponents. He cited allegations made during the 2019 #RevolutionNow movement, when security agencies claimed he received funds abroad to destabilise the country—an accusation he firmly denied.
Sowore stressed that his activism is guided by conscience rather than political or foreign interests, adding that he sees himself primarily as a citizen reporter committed to exposing corruption and holding those in power accountable.
He described SaharaReporters as a platform that introduced a new era of digital and investigative journalism in Nigeria and said he practices what he calls adversarial journalism, arguing that journalists should not remain neutral in the face of oppression or injustice.
On his political relationships, Sowore stated that he has no formal alliances with Nigeria’s major political figures, although he acknowledged knowing a few politicians through years of public engagement.
He concluded by reaffirming that his mission remains to serve ordinary Nigerians through journalism, activism and advocacy for transparency, accountability and good governance.
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