Sowore reveals Onanuga privately wrote to him and how he rebuffed his audacity to dictate to citizens how to criticise Tinubu
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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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 – Sowore to Onanuga.
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Good governance agitator Omoyele Sowore has revealed how presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga privately wrote to him to delete his post on X and Facebook where he labelled Bola Tinubu a “criminal” for announcing to the world that Nigeria is now corruption free under his regime.
Sowore said he flagged Onanuga’s audacity “to dictate to citizens like me how to interpret what is already in the public domain,” stressing that “your request reflects not only poor judgment but also the mindset of the principal you represent.”
Culled from Sowore’s Facebook wall and reproduced verbatim below is the full correspondence between him and Onanuga:
Onanuga’s letter
Presidential spokesperson @adebayoonanuga, 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 [what] the DSS is complaining about is anchored on a total misinterpretation of what the President said in Brazil.
He [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.
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 Sahara Reporters, I even moonlighted as a “Special Correspondent” for The News, working alongside ors.
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