A self-proclaimed northern youth leader, Ambassador Abdul Dambature, has ignited a firestorm of controversy after releasing a video in which he threatened to publicly flog prominent human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on the streets of Abuja. His threat stems from Sowore’s unrelenting criticisms of prominent northern figures, particularly the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a blistering social media post that set off the chain reaction, Sowore condemned the perceived glorification of Abacha’s legacy at a time when the nation is grappling with economic hardship under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
> “Imagine the Abacha family celebrating the fact that their ex-maximum dictator father left Nigeria better than Tinubu is running it!” Sowore had posted.
He didn’t stop there. The fiery activist also took aim at former military president General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd.), who had described a tragic flood in Niger State that claimed over 200 lives as “ordained by Allah.” Sowore fired back, calling Babangida a “craze man doing animal talking!”
Enraged by what he termed Sowore’s “serial insults” to revered northern leaders, Dambature posted a video to Facebook, introducing himself as the President of Northern Nigerian Youths and unleashing a scathing tirade.
> “Sowore, enough is enough. You’ve insulted our elders repeatedly. You did it with General Abacha, and now again, you attack General Babangida,” he fumed. “If you ever disrespect anybody from Northern Nigeria again, we will make sure we flog you in the streets of Abuja.”
Dambature’s speech, dripping with fury and nationalistic zeal, praised General Abacha as “one of our sterling icons” and warned that criticism of northern leaders would no longer be tolerated.
> “General Sani Abacha is no more. Why do people keep saying trash about a dead man? Because he cannot rise to defend himself?” he questioned.
The self-appointed youth leader claimed Sowore’s activism was no longer legitimate and urged him to “find a business to do” rather than continue “insulting northern elders.”
Watch the video via this link below 👇
> “You may disrespect elders in the South where you come from, but we won’t allow that here. Enough is enough!”
A Pattern of Backlash
This is not the first time Sowore has faced public pushback for his fearless commentaries. In May, protesters stormed the streets of Abuja calling for his prosecution. Wielding placards with messages like “Mass Rally Against Fake Activists and Manipulators” and “Opposition Rejects Sowore and His Minions,” the demonstrators accused him of weaponizing activism for personal vendettas.
> “What began as a promising voice of dissent has turned into a toxic cocktail of arrogance, misinformation, and deliberate blackmail,” said one of the protest’s organisers, who addressed journalists on the sidelines.
The speaker claimed Sowore’s “crusade” is driven by bitterness rather than patriotism.
> “He sees nothing good in Nigeria. He viciously targeted Bukola Saraki, Peter Obi, and many others. That’s why many now call him the Blackmailer-in-Chief.”
The group called for Sowore’s immediate prosecution for “cyber libel, incitement, and character assassination,” insisting that “freedom of speech was never meant to be a weapon of social sabotage.”
The video threat has since sparked widespread condemnation, with many Nigerians denouncing Dambature’s rhetoric as inflammatory and a threat to democratic expression. Legal experts have weighed in, warning that Dambature could face prosecution for issuing a violent threat in a public space.
Supporters of Sowore argue that his critiques—however blunt—are grounded in the constitutional right to free speech and are aimed at holding public figures accountable.
Meanwhile, Sowore has not publicly responded to Dambature’s threat as of press time, but insiders say the activist is unfazed and views the video as further proof of Nigeria’s fragile tolerance for dissent.
Final Thoughts:
Dambature’s aggressive stance has reignited the national debate around free speech, respect for the dead, and the legacy of Nigeria’s controversial leaders. As tensions flare between regional loyalties and activist criticisms, one thing is certain: Sowore remains one of the nation’s most polarizing—and fearless—voices.
PIONEER NEWS 