Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 election, has shared an extraordinary experience from his past involving the late Chief MKO Abiola. Reflecting on his only meeting with Abiola, Sowore recalled refusing a substantial offer of N800,000 from the man widely believed to be Nigeria’s legitimate president in the annulled June 12, 1993, election.

Sowore, who was just 21 at the time, led a delegation from the University of Lagos Student Union to meet Abiola shortly after the election’s annulment by General Ibrahim Babangida. In his recent appearance on Glitch Africa’s Honest Bunch podcast, Sowore recounted the story of that encounter, which took place in Abiola’s home, amid ongoing student protests. He disclosed that Abiola offered him and his delegation N800,000 for transportation, a sum Sowore declined, underscoring the integrity he felt was necessary in their mission.

During the podcast, co-hosted by Nedu, Husband Material, Deity Cole, and Ezinne, Sowore responded to a question about a viral photo of him with Abiola, which has circulated widely. He explained that the photo, taken in 1993, captured a pivotal moment shortly after the military annulled the June 12 election. “We had started protesting immediately, but we wondered if Abiola was fully committed to the battle we were prepared to fight—the battle of our lives,” Sowore explained, noting the unrest among students following the annulment.

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Sowore described how he and the other student leaders boldly entered Abiola’s house, bypassing protocols to confront him directly. “When we arrived, he looked at us and asked, ‘Who are these people?’ I stepped forward, and he recognized me right away, saying, ‘Ah, student union leader, good job!’” Sowore recalled.

In that meeting, Sowore told Abiola of his concerns, specifically about politicians around him who, he believed, were only interested in his wealth. “I asked him, ‘Are you ready for this battle? Are you prepared to risk your life for Nigerians?’ He said yes. Meanwhile, I saw politicians holding onto their bags, clearly just there to collect money,” Sowore shared.

At that point, Abiola reached for a duffel bag filled with cash and counted out N800,000, intending it for Sowore and his team’s transportation back to the university. “I immediately told him, ‘Chief, forget about transportation—how could N800,000 cover transport from UNILAG to here?’ We did not take the money, but he insisted,” Sowore said, adding that it was unprecedented for anyone to refuse Abiola’s financial gifts.

The decision to refuse the money created tension in the room, with some politicians visibly unhappy about Sowore’s stance. “I was wearing slippers and my only Ankara outfit. But when they saw my firm stance, Chief Anthony Enahoro, who was there, supported me,” Sowore recounted. Abiola eventually escorted Sowore and his team outside, where they encountered a photographer and John Momoh, now CEO of Channels Television, who were waiting to interview Abiola. This encounter led to the now-famous photograph of Sowore and Abiola together, a memory Sowore cherishes.

Interestingly, Sowore did not become aware of this photo’s existence until 2018. “A photographer, Tunji Oyelero from Vanguard, had taken the picture, but I never received it. He passed away before I knew about it, and one day, someone sent it to me,” Sowore revealed.