Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has said he will not retract or apologise for calling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a “criminal”. He made this bold declaration in response to an ultimatum reportedly issued by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The controversy began after President Tinubu made a statement during his state visit to Brazil, where he claimed that corruption in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market had ended under his administration.
In a video that went viral online, President Tinubu was heard saying, “There is no more corruption in the foreign exchange market since I took office.”
Sowore, reacting strongly to this claim, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account, where he wrote: “This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
The post sparked widespread reactions, with many Nigerians sharing mixed opinions. However, the DSS reportedly saw the post as a serious offence. According to sources, the secret police allegedly contacted X and Facebook to request the deactivation of Sowore’s accounts. They also issued him a one-week ultimatum to delete and retract his statement, warning of possible consequences if he failed to comply.
But Sowore, known for his fierce activism and outspokenness, has refused to back down. In a fresh post on X, he stood his ground and said he would not withdraw his statement.
He wrote: “Even if you give me till the end of Tinubu’s tenure in 2027, I will NOT retract my statement.”
This bold response has further intensified the standoff between Sowore and the Nigerian authorities.
Omoyele Sowore is the founder of Sahara Reporters, an online news platform known for exposing corruption in high places. He was also a presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2019 and 2023 elections under the African Action Congress (AAC). Sowore has had several run-ins with the DSS in the past, including a controversial arrest in 2019 over his planned #RevolutionNow protest.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, has faced growing criticism over economic hardship, the removal of fuel subsidy, and the falling value of the naira. While his government insists it is tackling corruption and reviving the economy, many Nigerians are still struggling with high living costs and unstable exchange rates.
The current exchange rate situation and President Tinubu’s claim of ending corruption in that sector have been widely debated.
Sowore’s refusal to apologise has raised questions about freedom of speech and the role of government in controlling public opinion. Many Nigerians are watching closely to see what steps the DSS will take next, and how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
For now, Sowore says he is ready for any consequences — but he will not take back his words.
