DSS ordered Sowore to apologize for the ‘Criminal’ comments on Tinubu

The State Service Department (DSS) has directed the opposition and journalist politician Sahara, Omoyele Sowore, to withdraw and apologize for calling the Ball President Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal” at a new social media post, warning that the failure to comply will attract consequences based on Nigerian law.

In a letter dated September 7, 2025 and signed by Uwem Davies on behalf of the Director General of DSS, the agency described Sowore’s words as “fake, evil, and able to incite public disturbances, divisions and legal solutions and order.”

Instructions to follow Sowore’s post on X (previously Twitter) at 11:38 pm on August 26, 2025, where he wrote: “This criminal really goes to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What courage should be lied to!”

According to DSS, “The choice of your words in the president’s description is wrong, evil, and able to incite public disorders, divisions and legal solutions and order. To place this in the right perspective, these statements are the most unable to cause rebellion, because things are very disgusting, disgusting.

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This service added that Sowore’s statement had “reduced the reputation of President Tinubu in front of Nigeria and the international community,” while also triggered anger among many citizens, especially supporters of the president who became “turbulent.”

To improve the situation, DSS ordered Sowore to immediately withdraw the post on the same platform as the same stand out, publish public apologies in at least two national newspapers and two television stations with national coverage, and submit their representatives in one week to the DSS headquarters in Abuja or via official email.

The letter emphasized, “People from your status who campaigned to lead this country as a critical stakeholder of democracy must have high integrity and therefore must carry out restraints and responsibilities in their speeches and actions. Individuals and organizations must, in addition, adjust their comments to promote peace, security and good governance in the country.”

Reminded that it would take decisive action if ignored, DSS further stated, “Note that DSS is a security intelligence organization that has its mandate, among others, to ensure that the Nigerians are not fooled by false propaganda, thus, the services in the right service to achieve this, if you fail to improve this wrong narration, without anyone going to achieve this.

DSS also copied the United States Embassy in Abuja in his correspondence with sowore, underline diplomatic sensitivity of this problem.