Human rights activist and RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has accused Nigerian leaders of deliberately exploiting public distractions to divert attention from critical national issues, suggesting that every administration appoints what he mockingly called a “minister of distraction.”
In a candid interview on Nigeria Info, Sowore criticized both the political elite and Nigerian society for their role in enabling a culture of distraction amid widespread socio-economic hardship.
“A COUNTRY ON FIRE, YET FIXATED ON TRIVIA”
“The country is burning,” Sowore said, “but Nigerians are often more invested in trivial matters like celebrity gossip or reality TV, rather than the structural collapse around them.”
He acknowledged that the media is not to blame for this trend, arguing instead that it merely follows public interest. “The media is doing its job. If you talk about weather reports from NiMet, nobody listens. But mention Iyabo Ojo or Big Brother Naija, and they’ll flood your studio,” he noted.
POLITICIANS AS MASTERS OF DISTRACTION
Sowore went further to claim that Nigerian politicians intentionally use entertainment and sensational news to steer attention away from pressing issues.
“I believe there is a minister in charge of distraction in every government… His job is to monitor the mood of the country and, when things get too serious, create chaos or scandal to divert attention.”
He cited the Buhari administration’s tacit support for Big Brother Naija, despite Buhari’s public image as a religious conservative. “Why didn’t they ever cancel it? Because it was a perfect tool for distraction,” he said.
ENTERTAINMENT AS A STRATEGIC TOOL
According to Sowore, the deliberate indulgence in foreign sports and entertainment by Nigerian leaders—despite neglecting the local sports industry—is no coincidence.
“They don’t have time to build stadiums or support local leagues, but they can name every Manchester United player. It’s not by accident—they need the distraction,” he said.
While the public is distracted, Sowore argued, critical issues such as tariff hikes, killings, and political repression go unchallenged. “Every week, a scandal comes along to replace the last one, and no one remembers what they were angry about days before,” he said, referencing the swift media shift from the NANS President assault to the VDM-EFCC saga.
NO BLAME FOR THE PRESS
Sowore concluded by defending the role of the press, emphasizing that while the media amplifies what people care about, it is society and the political class that drive the demand for distractions.
“The press isn’t at fault. It reports marriages, deaths, scandals, and politics. That’s their job. The real blame lies with the leaders who manufacture chaos and the citizens who choose to follow.”
