The Digest:
The Department of State Services (DSS) has given activist Omoyele Sowore one week to retract a post made on his X (formerly Twitter) account regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a letter dated September 7, 2025, the DSS demanded a public apology and removal of the "criminal, false, and malicious" statement.
Key Points:
- The DSS letter was addressed to Sowore's American and social media addresses.
- The agency claims Sowore's post has infuriated Tinubu's supporters, causing them to become "restive."
- The post in question, from August 26, 2025, accused the President of lying about the end of corruption in Nigeria.
- The DSS described the statements as "odious, repugnant, derogatory and uncomplimentary," capable of inciting "insurrection."
- Sowore is required to publish a public apology in at least two national dailies and two television stations.
- Failure to comply within the one-week deadline will lead to the DSS initiating "appropriate" legal measures.
- A copy of the letter was sent to the United States Embassy in Abuja.
This action by the DSS highlights the ongoing tension between political dissent and national security in Nigeria, raising questions about freedom of speech and its limits in the digital age. The outcome of this ultimatum could set a precedent for how public criticism of government figures is handled in the future.
