The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has berated activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, saying he is “lucky” to have described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal” and remain free.
Wike made the remarks on Thursday during the flag-off of the Arterial Road N1 construction project in Wuye, Abuja, where he praised President Tinubu’s adherence to the rule of law.
Referring to Sowore’s August 25 tweet, in which the activist called Tinubu a “criminal” while citing a video from the President’s trip to Brazil, Wike said Nigeria’s current leader was tolerant compared to others.
Sowore’s tweet had read:
“This criminal @officialpbat actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
Wike, however, countered that such remarks would have triggered dire consequences under a different leadership.
“This is a country where somebody on social media will say Mr. President is a criminal; nothing will happen. You are lucky to have a President who believes in the rule of law. Continue to be lucky. There are those you will meet that you won’t be lucky again,” he warned.
The Minister also drew comparisons with the United States, noting:
“No matter how people criticise Trump, have you ever seen any American citizen on social media, or in public, call their President a criminal? But here, anybody can wake up in the morning and abuse the President, and we are happy. You are lucky you have a President who believes in the rule of law.”
DSS Moves Against Sowore’s Tweet
The controversial tweet has already drawn the attention of the Department of State Services (DSS), which filed criminal charges against Sowore under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes and Terrorism Prevention laws.
The DSS also demanded that major social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Meta, remove the post, describing it as a threat to national security and public order.
But Sowore has refused to back down, branding the DSS action as “despicable” and an attempt to silence dissent in Nigeria.
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