Nigerian politician and activist Omoyele Sowore has criticized British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua for his interactions with Nigerian political leaders, including President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sowore labeled Anthony Joshua’s gestures, such as presenting autographed gloves and showing deference to leaders, as inappropriate and accused him of pandering to politicians.
During a recent visit to Nigeria, Joshua met with President Tinubu on January 1, 2025, at Tinubu’s Lagos residence, where he presented the president with a personalized autographed boxing glove. 
Tinubu described the gift as a “symbol of perseverance and excellence.”
Earlier, on December 30, 2024, Joshua visited Ogun State, where Governor Dapo Abiodun honored him by naming a boxing hall after him. The governor also gave him the Yoruba name “Omobowale,” meaning “the child who has come home,” acknowledging Joshua’s deep ties to Nigeria.
Joshua’s previous interactions with Nigerian leaders have also drawn attention. In 2020, he met with former President Buhari, where he was seen prostrating in a traditional gesture of respect. Sowore, however, expressed disdain for such displays. Posting on his X account, Sowore criticized Anthony Joshua for “genuflecting on the altars of evil Nigerian leaders,” suggesting that Joshua’s actions seemed as though his career depended on it.
Sowore’s remarks have sparked discussions online, with opinions divided over Anthony Joshua’s connections to Nigerian political figures.
