Omoyele Sowore, a prominent human rights activist and former presidential candidate, has dismissed claims that divine intervention led to the recent removal of Kayode Egbetokun as the Inspector General of Police.
Addressing newsmen on Monday, March 16, 2026, Sowore asserted that while Egbetokun suggested God had directed President Bola Tinubu to fire him, the reality was a result of sustained public pressure and civilian advocacy.
He maintained that the collective efforts of Nigerians forced the presidency to act, further vowing that this same popular momentum would be channeled toward ensuring Nigerians remove Tinubu himself from office during the next general elections in 2027.
Sowore said, “Egbetokun said it was God that told Tinubu to fire him, God never told Tinubu to fire him. We forced Tinubu to fire him and we are going to force Nigerians to fire Tinubu during next polls.”
The activist’s remarks come in the wake of a leadership transition within the Nigeria Police Force.
President Tinubu recently accepted the resignation of Egbetokun following a period of intense public outcry over police conduct and legal controversies surrounding his tenure extension.
In his place, the president appointed and confirmed Tunji Disu, the former Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State, as the 23rd substantive Inspector General of Police.
Disu was formally sworn in earlier this month after receiving unanimous ratification from the Nigeria Police Council.
Egbetokun officially bowed out of the force on Thursday, March 12, 2026, marking the end of a 36-year career.
During a colorful pulling-out parade at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the retired police chief described his departure as a divine fulfillment of his prayers to end his service well.
However, Sowore declared that the removal of Egbetokun was merely a precursor to a larger democratic movement aimed at unseating the current administration at the polls.