A fresh war of words has erupted between former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following comments made during a road commissioning event in Abuja.
Wike, while speaking at the commissioning of the Arterial Road N1 in Abuja, expressed surprise that people can openly call the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a criminal on social media without consequences.
“This is a country where someone can go on social media and call the President a criminal and nothing will happen,” Wike said. “You are lucky to have a president who believes in the rule of law.”
The remarks, which were widely seen as a veiled jab at Sowore, triggered a fiery response from the Sahara Reporters publisher, who took to social media to slam Wike.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Sowore described Wike as a “drunkard, murderer, landgrabber, and thief,” accusing him of multiple crimes, including human rights abuses and corruption during his time as Governor of Rivers State.
“If Nigerians weren’t so docile, complacent, and cowardly, criminals, thieves, and murderers like @GovWike would never have any leadership roles in this country,” Sowore wrote.
He went further to accuse Wike of “stealing land in Abuja,” “robbing the people of Rivers State,” and “massacring Igbos at Obigbo” during the EndSARS protests in 2020. He concluded that Wike “should be at the Hague at the International Criminal Court.”
Sowore also alleged that Wike implied President Tinubu should have assassinated him for branding him a criminal — a comment that has since sparked online backlash and debate over freedom of expression.
The fiery exchange adds to the growing list of political tensions surrounding key figures in the Tinubu administration. Wike, known for his controversial style and blunt remarks, has frequently been involved in political battles, both during and after his tenure as governor.
Sowore, on the other hand, remains one of Nigeria’s most outspoken critics of corruption and bad governance. He has faced several arrests and ongoing legal battles over his activism and statements against political leaders.
