Mr Omoyele Sowore, Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), who is also the founder of SaharaReporters, is at the centre of a heated ongoing national conversation after declaring that if elected president, his approach to national defence would be drone-led.
This statement has divided Nigerians sharply between admiration and ridicule.
Sowore, an activist and journalist who has contested the Nigerian presidency in 2019 and 2023, made the remarks during a wide-ranging policy speech on national security on Arise News.
Sowore said: “Short-term, we must tackle insecurity head-on by pursuing and neutralising bandits through coordinated operations, backed by modern equipment, technology, and strong intelligence.
“We need honest, accountable security leaders focused on real protection, not politics or distractions, and a military and police force capable of proper strategy, not misuse of power or trivial arrests. A central control system will be established to track threats in real time and respond swiftly to dismantle criminal networks and secure the country.”
The “drone as Minister of Defence” declaration, whether metaphorical or literal, immediately went viral, drawing knocks and praises from a widely divided audience.
The comment triggered a wave of responses across social media.
Chris Aspirewealth @CAspirewealth, said: “He’s not just talking about an election; he’s talking about a total systemic reset. The status quo is terrified of this level of clarity. Who else is ready for a real shift in 2027?”
Bartholomew @SergBartholomew said: “How does this even make sense? A drone? And when the drone is shot down, what happens next? So, for every drone shot down or captured, your minister of defence is lost? Abeg, rest small.”
Toyeeb Suleiman @SuleimanToyeeb, also has something to say: “This right here is why many Nigerians don’t take him seriously…Statements like this only show a shallow depth of reasoning and ignorance. Many Nigerians complain about bad governance, but can’t even proffer solutions to the problems they’re complaining about. We lack critical thinking abilities, and henceforth, I wish to see people complain and also drop possible solutions to the problems they’re complaining about.”
@Skood @skood009 opined, “The Nigerian police are overwhelmed with personal escort duties and trivial assignments instead of real security work.
“It seems many officers prefer these roles over tackling serious crime. No president has truly refocused the police on protecting all citizens equally. I know a family where police officers follow a man, his wife, and even their children simply because he can afford a DPO, showing clear inequality in policing priorities.”
James Abraham @JamesUAbraham mentioned, “If I become President of Nigeria tomorrow, the first thing I will do is build big, beautiful prisons where a lot of politicians will spend the rest of their lives.
“Then send the Jihadists to Jenna very fast to go enjoy their 72 virgins. Then reset, retrain, and rebuild the civil service and all government agencies to be more effective in executing their statutory duties and give Nigerians the service it deserves in all sectors.”
I.am.DrealChayo @Shayolala expressed his views thus, “See finish don enter Naija politics….wetin musa eye no go see for gate…..one dumbo said he will make sure all Nigerians have his number, question is for what? SUG president now wants to appoint drones as Defence Minister….as how? All you children of hate and brainwashed cretins see wetin una cause….emotions and sentiment don’t align with election…..another one fit come now tell you say na Gumi go be defence minister…..wahala ti wa bayi o.”
Brume @EyesioB also airs his views: “This man delivered a brilliant speech, instead of us Nigerians to support and look how these dreams go come through alot of people here say make he go start as governor smile, the once wen don be governors before them become president hope them don fit stop the insecurity.”
Ejike @amindavison stated: “You can clearly see how Sowore outlined practical solutions to the security issues. I may not agree with him, but he spoke well. If it were the other guy, you’d still be wondering whether he even understood the question he was asked. Mr give me a ticket.”
SportsDokita (Odogwu) @Sports_Doctor2, said: “Even the United States have a Minister of War, a Human Being, but Egbon will make a ‘Drone’ that will be operated by a Human Being, his Minister of Defence.”
Sol @SolDeltaborn said: “Nigerians, you all deserve these total fail systems, especially the dumb people that cannot comprehend what Sowore is saying. You see a man speaking facts, saying he is gonna reform the total Nigeria systems and give you all a better life, you are here insulting him, cowardly people.”
Ogunleye Tunde @ogunleyeTu29765 observed: “People here are so daft for real, this man is talking about the minister of defence who knows really well about war technically technologically chaii who do Nigeria like this.”
Rene @SouthLight101 said, “Many won’t follow this idea until other nations start implementing a similar thing. He once talked about exporting cannabis years ago, but recently it was spoken about in the government house. By the time he sees that Nigerians are not ready, he’ll leave us with una old politicians!
Scenic Africa @Kingsxcel, said: “It’s a bold, tech-forward vision, though critics might question the practicality of replacing Nigeria’s entire defence ministry structure with drone-centric warfare, given current infrastructure and capacity challenges.”
The Wonder One @Ernestzoro1, said: “Your Defence Minister will be a drone. That is the beginning of failure. Does drone control itself? Even the US still rely on human intelligence before using drones. Na drone go motivate your Armies, strategies, and command. Sowore, wake up, I beg….”
Edidem Alexander (Amb.) @AlexanderEdetA, said: “You all should understand what Sowore mean by his Minister of Defence will be a Drone. That is in reference to the fact that his approach to the fight against terrorism will be tech-driven.”
aynerd @aynerd2, said: “Drones? Please just rest. Security goes beyond equipment. Invest in a very strong intelligence network organisation like the CIA and establish it in Nigeria. Their goal is to be ahead of the enemy, know when the attacks will come and make adequate preparations to tackle them.
O minipotent @Trillionpounder, mentioned: “Lol, most Nigerians didn’t go to school to know. A man is using a figure of speech, and they are taking him literally. Shame.”
Harmless Arrow@Ugochuksogboo, said: “ Sowore is not interested in becoming Nigeria’s president or anything. He is just interested in drama. He contested in 2019, 2023 and now 2027. If Sowore is interested in public office, he would have contested for the Ondo governorship or Senate. Even the FCT Senate. Just a drama king.”
Okiti-Ogan 🇳🇬 @alaokayode, said: “Those impressionable headless will think he’s making sense because they don’t have what to use to interrogate his simplistic rubbish he’s saying. So, these ‘drones’ will just drop into his lap because they’re like bread in the market? No recourse to NASS for appropriation, etc.?”
Femi Toyinbo @OluwafemiO78855 said: “You may not like Sowore or his style of activism, but it cannot be denied that he criticises issues and also attempts to put forward what he believes are solutions, rather than drawing comparisons with countries like Taiwan or Indonesia.”
Samson Kayode @donkas101, said: “Many of these aspirants act like they don’t know the Nigerian military is compromised. Those drones you’re claiming you’ll buy will end up in the hands of the bandits! The way insecurity can end is through community policing; governors should empower the locals within their states.”
Omo Owa @OmoOwa_Prince said, “Go and start from the grassroots. You can’t become Nigeria’s president when we have people with integrity like Peter Obi on the ballot. Sowore himself knows the truth, but his unseriousness about politics makes him come out every election year to contest for the presidency.”
Eromonsele @kokokhere also shared his thoughts, “People like Aniagolu are part of the problems of Nigeria. A presidential candidate says his defence minister will be a drone. Instead of interrogating him further, the interviewer says, “I like that” and proceeds to help him justify the nonsense.”
Elijah! @eliasworth, mentioned: “He is still talking like a depthless, knowledge-deficient politician! Technology provides data and statistics; decision-making and accountability remain with humans! I said it, Sowore is not serious, more like the “booda of bear parlour politics”, he can stick to activism.”
Mark SH 🇳🇬….@Markshg, stated: “He is talking about how tough he will go after the terrorists, make sure none survive by any luck. This is the best any candidate can promise Nigerians. With the retrieval of our looted funds/resources from the looters, Sowore is the best thing to happen to Nigeria at this point.”
ADETRIUMPH Oba lola @degenius4u2, noted: “Whether or not, bro, you can’t be there. So, it will be a waste of time engaging your stupidity, except maybe you mean to say a president in a Zamfara prison cell because you are closer there than to the presidency in Aso Rock Villa, without you proving your allegation against Tinubu.”
