Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has criticised the Department of State Services for allegedly pressuring X (formerly Twitter) to delete a post by Sahara Reporters publisher and activist, Omoyele Sowore.
PUNCH Online had reported that Sowore, who ran for president under the African Action Congress in 2023, reportedly received a formal notification from X that the DSS had requested the deletion of a tweet critical of President Bola Tinubu.
Despite the alleged pressure, he said he would not comply.
In a statement on Sunday, Adeyanju knocked the DSS and accused it of using state authority to intimidate dissenting voices.
“Every citizen has the right to freely share their opinions, even when those opinions do not align with those in authority.
“The use of state power to silence and intimidate individuals because of their views is an attack on the very freedoms that sustain a healthy democracy,” he said.
Adeyanju also highlighted Sowore’s history of running afoul of government authorities, noting his consistent courage in speaking out.
“Sowore has remained a victim of intolerant governments, yet he continues to speak his mind courageously.
“He is not just an activist but he is also a former presidential candidate whose commentary on governance carry weight.
“His criticisms of the president or government policies must be treated with respect, no matter how uncomfortable they may be for those in power,” the lawyer said.
According to Sowore, DSS had asked X to remove his post, claiming it disparaged the president and threatened national security.
Reacting to the request, he wrote,”This morning, X (formerly Twitter) officially contacted me about the despicable threat letter they received from the lawless DSS over my tweet on Tinubu.
“One option I will not be taking is deleting that tweet. Thank you, @X.”
He also shared the platform’s notification confirming it had received the legal request from the Nigerian security agency.
