How I Was Expelled Twice From UNILAG And Detained Under Abacha Regime- Sowore

Ikeja, Lagos State– Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, revealed during an event at NECA House Auditorium in Lagos that he was expelled twice from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) due to his fervent activism and advocacy for human rights.

Speaking at THE PUNCH’s 50th-anniversary event and the launch of “Our Punch Years” book in Lagos, Sowore highlighted the crucial role played by media outlets, especially Punch Newspaper and Vanguard, in securing justice during his academic struggles.

The AAC chieftain disclosed that his commitment to student union activism led to his expulsion from UNILAG, extending his academic journey to six years instead of the standard four.

Sowore emphasized the pivotal role of media in amplifying the challenges faced by students fighting for their rights.

Sowore also narrated an incident during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Adamawa State, where he was arrested and detained by the military under the regime of General Sani Abacha.

He said the reason for his detention was linked to a news report he filed, revealing the killing of King Saro Wiwa.

Despite completing his NYSC, Sowore faced unwarranted accusations of planning to overthrow the government, resulting in his arrest and detention in a military guardroom at the Air Force base in Yola.

“I was a student union activist at the University of Lagos, and were it not for Punch Newspaper and Vanguard, I probably wouldn’t have graduated from the university because we couldn’t even get judges to hear our cases when we were expelled.

“And I was expelled twice from the University of Lagos. I spent six years at the University of Lagos instead of the normal four years.

“When I went to serve in the Northern part of the country, particularly Adamawa State, I finished my NYSC and I was arrested with my NYSC uniform and detained by the military under (Sani) Abacha, that I was planning to overthrow the government.

“The reason was that in November 1996, I was working as a journalist at the ATV Yola, presenting the NYSC news. Being who I am, I reported that King Saro Wiwa was killed.

“It was a pre-recorded programme and my supervisor did not watch it before it was played. Suddenly, everywhere went gaga and they removed me from ATV Yola and I finished my NYSC and I was arrested and detained in a military guardroom at the Air Force base in Yola.”

He explained how Punch reporter at the time, Stanley Yakubu, who reported that a corps member was being detained, he would have been forgotten inside the detention facility and would have died there.

“Till today, I was never given my NYSC certificate. I don’t have my NYSC certificate as I speak, but I don’t need it anymore because I have served the country more than any corps member,” Sowore added.