Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has strongly condemned the rising xenophobic and ethnic-baiting rhetoric in Lagos following the controversial renaming of a bus stop after musician and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy.
Sowore likened the current divisive tactics to those used against Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti in the past, where cultural and ethnic tensions were exploited to suppress dissent. He warned that such strategies only deepen societal divisions and distract from pressing national issues.
The renaming of the bus stop has sparked heated debates, with some Lagos residents expressing opposition, citing concerns over cultural representation. Sowore, however, insists that the backlash has taken an unhealthy turn, with some individuals using the issue to stoke ethnic tensions and target specific groups.
He called for unity and tolerance, urging Nigerians to focus on addressing systemic challenges rather than engaging in divisive politics. Sowore emphasized that the same tactics of marginalization and intimidation were deployed against Fela Kuti during his activism, and history should not be allowed to repeat itself.
His statement comes amid growing concerns over ethnic and regional divisions in Nigeria, with activists warning against the dangers of inflammatory rhetoric in public discourse.
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