Human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has disclosed that presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga privately urged him to delete a social media post in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

Sowore said Onanuga contacted him via WhatsApp following the controversy generated by his August 26, 2025 posts on X and Facebook. The Department of State Services (DSS) has since written to both X and Meta, requesting the removal of the posts and suspension of his accounts, accusing him of hate speech and incitement.

In the message, Onanuga argued that Sowore had misinterpreted Tinubu’s recent speech in Brazil. According to him, the president’s remark about the absence of corruption referred specifically to foreign exchange sourcing and not to corruption in general.

Quoting business leaders such as Samad Rabiu as examples, Onanuga told Sowore:

“Your August 26 tweet that the DSS is complaining about is anchored on a total misinterpretation of what the President said in Brazil… You truly misfired. I will advise that you delete the contentious post.”

Sowore’s Response

Sowore rejected the request, accusing the presidential aide of attempting to dictate how citizens interpret public statements.

“I am surprised you consider it appropriate to dictate to citizens how to interpret what is already in the public domain… In this regard, it is you who has misfired,” he wrote.

The activist noted his long acquaintance with Onanuga, recalling that he once worked briefly with The News before founding SaharaReporters. He said he had asked Onanuga for permission to make their private exchange public but received no response.

Threats From Tinubu Loyalists

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters reported that two loyalists of President Tinubu, during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, vowed to physically “demobilise” Sowore if the DSS failed to arrest him. Sources claimed a state governor also attended the meeting, which was originally convened to discuss preparations for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

“They said they know his routine and vowed to deal with him, even comparing the planned attack to how the late activist Gani Fawehinmi was treated,” one source said.

DSS Ultimatum

The DSS has given Sowore a one-week ultimatum to retract his posts, warning that his comments could threaten national security. The agency argued that the activist’s statements violated provisions of the Criminal Code, Cyber Crimes Act, and Terrorism Prevention Act.

In letters to X and Meta, the DSS demanded the deactivation of Sowore’s verified accounts, alleging that his remarks could incite unrest.

Sowore, however, has vowed not to delete the post.