Protest is a constitutional right — powerful when purpose-driven, goal-focused, and well-coordinated. But when agitation becomes a theatre of personal drama, it risks losing its soul and inviting cynicism. That appeared to be the case on July 21, 2025, when a demonstration purportedly staged in support of retired police officers took a strange turn under the spotlight of Omoyele Sowore.
Multiple video footages from the protest show moments that raised more questions than they answered. In one widely circulated clip, Sowore and a group of co-protesters are seen physically shoving uniformed officers while chanting “Pay Police!” — a curious scene of protesters demanding the police pay… the police.
In another video, Sowore is caught on camera pushing a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to the ground during a heated attempt to breach the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja — a secured facility that is neither responsible for pensions nor gratuities. The confrontation hardly fits the definition of a peaceful protest.
Then came the twist. In the middle of his forceful advance, Sowore reportedly lost his eyeglasses. Suddenly, the core issue — pension justice for ageing officers — took a back seat as his post-protest commentary focused on the missing glasses rather than the plight of the retirees.
Clips from that day also reveal a pattern in Sowore’s approach: confrontations with officers marked by disdain and public humiliation, even when the officers attempted civil engagement. For many observers, his sudden solidarity with police retirees rang hollow, given his longstanding antagonism towards the institution.
This is not without precedent. Sowore has faced similar criticism in the past, particularly after the EndSARS protests, where he was accused by some activists of turning youth-driven struggles into personal platforms — earning the satirical moniker “cashtivist.”
The choice of protest location deepens the suspicion. The Force Headquarters has no jurisdiction over pensions; that lies with other government bodies. But the headquarters is home to the current Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun — a figure Sowore has publicly insulted on multiple occasions. Was this protest a genuine call for reform, or a calculated bid to provoke a direct clash with the IGP for viral effect?
If there were legitimate gains from the demonstration, they were drowned out by the spectacle — the pushing, the grappling, the grandstanding, and the glasses.
The retirees deserve better representation. Better will not come through chaotic chants, forceful incursions into secure premises, or the theatrics of personalities who place themselves at the centre of the story.
Given the documented footage of Sowore physically assaulting a uniformed officer and attempting to force entry into a secured national facility, it is fair to ask: should this not warrant an official review or questioning? If such conduct is left unchecked, where is the line to be drawn?
