#TakeBackNigeria: Sowore’s Alternative Universe and the Race for 2019 Elections

At this point we must consider our options closely. The waters are stirred, everyone is sitting tight.

President Buhari has declared for 2019. Now Sowore is painting the streets red and screaming blue murder. He said in his speech that he would rule Nigeria even in his sleep.

It’s obvious that Sowore’s candidacy is quite ambitious – if not daring. For a moment there, we all thought 2019 was going to be a walkover for APC.

Now we have a scandal-laden journalist dragging a rickety golden carriage to Aso Rock. Saraki is suing him and Lekan Fatodu has a lawsuit on him. He’s dragged with Senator Melaye in the past too who also threatened him with lawsuits in 2017.

Honestly, when it comes to roforofo, this is one candidate that seems on top of his game in that area. He is not wearing a suit or speaking Cambridge English. In fact, his first stakeholder’s meeting on arrival in Nigeria was held under a cramped up tent in the Sahara reporter’s office yard, but his welcome into the country was truly befitting a president.

Sowore’s claims to activism are credentials worth examining. We know of his past struggles in his UniLag days, as well as his struggles alongside Gani Fawehinmi, and the June 12^th chaos.

We also know that since 2006 when he started Sahara Reporters in the United States, he has been a political “thorn in the flesh” to the ruling parties.

It’s obvious that Sowore believes in his followership as much as they believe in him. Quite recently as reported, a mammoth crowd of youths welcomed him from New York back to Nigeria. Since then, he has been heavy on the tracks, firing shots left right and centre.

If nothing at all, this is someone who understands media gymnastics and public sentiments and he is not holding back. He has the likes of Kemi Olunloyo also giving their public allegiance to his course. Sowore is making it clear that he can play this game on any level, even right up to the highest seat in the land. He has followed up his arrival in the country with town hall meetings in Universities like U.I, has held one to mass support in Abuja, and has met with Shiite leaders while discussing the call for Zakzaky’s release. It’s quite clear that Sowore is banking a lot on his media dexterity, activism and the support of youths.

How would Nigeria be like with Sowore leading? Would there be better education? We all can remember how he took Adeyeye Olorunfemi under his wings when the Unilag administration had allegedly victimised him for protesting terrible academic conditions.

Will Sowore return freedom of the Press? Now that Kemi Olunloyo has recommended that he should also double as Minister of Information if he wins, would we return to good old freedom of expression?

Will he find a lasting solution to the herdsmen and rampaging Boko Haram sects? Will the Police, SARs and randy lecturers be put in check?

Sowore seems to have had enough time to criticise and propose an alternative reality using his platform (Sahara Reporters). The question is, will Nigerians give him that opportunity and imagine the possibility? That someone with apparently no godfather in politics nor affiliation with a ruling party may be able to do something off script?

We probably need this kind of offbeat, volatile ball of fury walking the hallways of Aso Rock; Lord knows, our mumu don do true true. He may carry some mud along but he will sure make a dent in unexpected places.

Maybe our starting point is being able to allow ourselves to imagine, maybe even admire this alternative reality.