By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Bola Tinubu and Omoyele Sowore |
Nigerian human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has publicly vowed not to delete a tweet where he criticized President Bola Tinubu, despite direct pressure from Nigeria's State Security Service (SSS or DSS).
The conflict escalated when Sowore revealed that X (formerly Twitter) notified him of an official request from the DSS to remove his post. The August 25th tweet accused President Tinubu of lying during a state visit to Brazil, stating, “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!”
Crucially, the social media platform clarified that it has not complied with the Nigerian government's demand. In an email to Sowore, X cited its policy of defending users' freedom of expression, giving him the opportunity to evaluate the legal request himself. This stance places X in direct opposition to the DSS's ultimatum.
This incident is the latest chapter in the long-running clash between Sowore and the Nigerian secret police. The DSS's letter, which accused Sowore of “spreading misleading information” and “incitement to violence,” demanded that X owner Elon Musk ban his account within 24 hours or face “far-reaching measures” against the platform in Nigeria.
Sowore has condemned the DSS's actions as a "national disgrace" and an "assault on institutions and common sense." He pledged to continue his activism “with or without a Twitter account,” framing the issue as a fundamental fight for free speech and national dignity against government overreach.