The recent mass promotion of over 20,000 Inspectors to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been hailed nationwide as a morale-boosting decision and a step in the right direction for law enforcement in Nigeria.
But true to form, Omoyele Sowore has attempted to hijack the moment, claiming that the promotions were a result of his #IGPMustGo protests. In his usual dramatic style, Sowore is painting the picture that his activism pushed the system to act.
Police promotions follow well-documented institutional procedures based on merit, years of service, and operational requirements. To suggest that a social media protest triggered such a sweeping administrative move not only undermines the efforts of the officers promoted but also disrespects the professional processes of the Nigeria Police Force
Yes, protests have their place in democracy. But turning every development into a personal achievement crosses the line between advocacy and self-promotion. More concerning is Sowore’s continued campaign of verbal attacks against the IGP—often laced with personal insults and inflammatory remarks. Ironically, Sowore remained silent when former President Muhammadu Buhari retained top military officers in office beyond their lawful tenure.
So, one must ask: What’s the motive here? Is it genuine reform or a hunger for relevance?
Nigerians must learn to differentiate between real activism and noise. Elevating voices that twist facts for clout does more harm than good to national conversations. Constructive criticism is vital—but it must be rooted in truth.
In this era of digital narratives and social media activism, let’s be careful not to elevate personal agendas over national interest.
