Facebook, a front line social media platform run by Meta Incorporated, has deactivated the account of Omoyele Sowore, popular human rights activist and convener of RevolutionNow movement.
This is coming on the heels of recent bickerings between the social justice crusader and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election.
Sahara Reporters, an online media platform owned by Sowore, had published a story stating that Peter Obi’s visit to Rome during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV as the holy father of the Roman Catholic Church was not for the sake of the inauguration as claimed, but to strike a deal with President Tinubu in order to save his Fidelity Bank.
Peter Obi then fired back at Sowore, calling him, to use his own words, a “Blackmailer-in-Chief”. The former Anambra State Governor denied Sahara Reporters allegation, stating that his journey to Rome should not be politicised.
However, Sowore threw darts again at Obi, calling him “Money Launderer-in-Chief”.
This development led the Obidients – a group of Obi’s online supporters– to report Sowore’s Facebook account to Meta, thereby leading to its deactivation.
In the meantime, there have been calls from different quarters for the restoration of Sowore’s account with some critics saying such move is an infringement of his constitutional right to freedom of expression.
In fact, many Sowore’s supporters and admirers have vowed to explore legal options if the matter is not redressed.
Emmanuel Larry, a Sowore supporter and Facebook user wrote: “I am reaching out to urgently request the immediate restoration of the Facebook account of Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore), a prominent Nigerian human rights advocate, journalist, and political figure.
“His account was recently deactivated without any clear justification or prior notice of violations. We are deeply troubled by the possibility that this action may stem from political bias or external pressures, particularly from those unsettled by his outspoken commitment to justice and democratic change.
“As a global platform, Meta/Facebook has a duty to safeguard free speech, not stifle it. The deactivation of Mr. Sowore’s account raises concerns about politically driven motives, which erodes the platform’s integrity as an impartial space for discourse and activism.
“We respectfully demand the following:
- The prompt restoration of Omoyele Sowore’s Facebook account.
- A clear and public explanation for the account’s deactivation.
- A public assurance from Meta/Facebook to uphold political neutrality and protect the voices of human rights advocates.
“Suppressing an activist’s voice through account deactivation is tantamount to censorship. If this issue is not resolved promptly, we will pursue further action through legal, civic, and international channels,” the post ended.
