Human rights advocate and erstwhile presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, has roundly criticized Labour Party presidential candidate for 2023, Peter Obi, over the latter's latest utterance dismissing the authenticity of the 2012 fuel subsidy removal protests in the tenure of then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking at a memorial lecture for the late Niger Delta leader Pa Edwin Clark in Abuja on May 7, 2025, Obi decried the quietness of protesters who took to the streets against Jonathan's administration while the economy declined under President Bola Tinubu's rule. He questioned why those who protested Jonathan's economic policies during his time in power have remained silent as fuel and food prices escalate.
Reacting to Obi’s comments, Sowore took to his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, describing Obi’s stance as “dishonest” and “outrightly dumb.” Sowore, a key figure in the 2012 protests, argued that Obi’s remarks implied that protests against Jonathan’s economic policies were unnecessary, given his role as an economic adviser in that administration.
Moreover, Sowore alleged that Fidelity Bank, in which Obi has a huge interest, was utilized to launder money for former Petroleum Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke. He challenged Obi and his devotees to stage protests against the current regime if they are so determined to hold the leaders accountable