“Sowore Lucky to Call Tinubu a Criminal Without Consequences” — Wike; Sowore Fires Back

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has said Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore is “lucky” to have publicly branded President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” without facing consequences.

Speaking on Thursday during the flag-off of a road project in Wuye District, Abuja, Mr Wike argued that the president’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law protected Mr Sowore from punishment.

“This is a country where somebody on social media will say Mr President is a criminal; nothing will happen. You say all kinds of things you want to say, but nothing will happen,” Mr Wike said.

He contrasted Nigeria with the United States, suggesting that Americans freely criticise former President Donald Trump but rarely use derogatory labels like “criminal.” He added that Nigerians should count themselves fortunate to have a leader who tolerates such criticism.

“You are lucky you have a president who believes in the rule of law. You are lucky. Continue to be lucky. There are those you will meet that you won’t be lucky again,” the minister warned.

Mr Wike’s comments came weeks after Mr Sowore, in an August 25 post on X (formerly Twitter), called President Tinubu a “criminal” for declaring that corruption no longer exists in Nigeria. The remark prompted the State Security Service (SSS) to approach Meta and X with a request to remove the post. The SSS also filed a lawsuit against Mr Sowore, who has refused to take it down.

Reacting to Mr Wike’s statement on Thursday, Mr Sowore fired back on X, branding the minister a “land grabber” and “murderer.”

“I heard that the FCT’s drunkard–murderer–landgrabber–thief minister, @GovWike Ezenwo Wike, said Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT should have assassinated me for calling him #TinubuisAcriminal,” Mr Sowore wrote.

He went further to accuse Mr Wike of corruption and human rights abuses, claiming that the minister should be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.