- Safiu Kehinde
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has leaked the private message send to him by the presidency demanding his removal of his tweet and Facebook post on President Bola Tinubu’s speech.
This is coming days two days after the Department of State Service (DSS) reportedly wrote the microblogging app, X, requesting for the removal of Sowore’s posts about Tinubu which they claimed to have violated the laws of Nigeria.
The activist had vowed not to delete the post which he identified his comment over Tinubu’s claim that there is no more corruption in Nigeria.
Sowore had in the comment referred to Tinubu as criminal.
He would in a post shared on his X handle on Tuesday leaked the private message sent to him by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, over the comment.
As seen in the leaked WhatsApp chat, Onanuga had described Sowore’s post as a misfire as he explained what the President meant by the statement he made during his state visit in Brazil.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu said there was no more corruption regarding sourcing foreign exchange and that you do not need to know CBN Governor Cardoso to get forex.
The presidential spokesperson again urged to delete the post.
Sowore also shared his reaction to Onanuga’s text as he reaffirmed his stance over his remark about the Preisdent.
The post read; “Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, wrote directly to me on WhatsApp, asking that I delete my tweet and Facebook post in which I referred to President Bola Tinubu as a criminal based on Tinubu’s recent speech in Brazil, where he claimed that there is “no more corruption in Nigeria.”
“Onanuga argued that my interpretation was a “misfire,” claiming Tinubu was only referring to the process of sourcing foreign exchange and not corruption as a whole.
“He even cited examples from business figures like Samad Rabiu to defend his point, and then advised me to delete my post.
“Here is his WhatsApp message to me: “Good afternoon. Your August 26 tweet that the DSS is complaining about is anchored on a total misinterpretation of what the President said in Brazil. He said there was no more corruption regarding sourcing foreign exchange and that you do not need to know CBN Governor Cardoso to get forex. Prominent business people like Samad Rabiu have all given testimony about this. That was what he meant. Nothing more. You truly misfired. I will advise that you delete the contentious post. Good afternoon.”
“And here is my response: “Good afternoon. I am surprised that you consider it appropriate to dictate to citizens like me how to interpret what is already in the public domain, especially when it comes to videos and matters that touch on the State of the Nation. What is more troubling is that in Nigeria today, anyone who dares to criticise the President is instantly subjected to harassment by the DSS, political thugs, and every coercive instrument the state can muster. I once thought perhaps you were unaware of such abuse, but it is now clear you are complicit. In this regard, it is you who has misfired. Your request reflects not only poor judgment but also the mindset of the principal you represent.”
“Nota Bene: “I have known Bayo Onanuga for many decades. Back when I was a student leader in Lagos, Tempo, The News, and PM News were our go-to platforms. Later, before founding SaharaReporters, I even moonlighted as a Special Correspondent for The News, working alongside Kunle Ajibade and @BabafemiOjudu to produce some of the hottest stories of that era.”
“This clarification is necessary because it explains why Mr. Onanuga may have chosen to write me a private message over my recent post. Out of respect, I sought his permission to make our exchange public, but he did not reply.”