Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to Nigeria's Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sparked controversy with statements suggesting he'd personally attack human rights activist Omoyele Sowore. This comes after Sowore was violently attacked on October 30, 2026, at Tawakalitu Restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Sowore, also the publisher of Sahara Reporters and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, described the incident as an attempted assassination.
In a Facebook post, Olayinka denied participating in the attack but mocked Sowore's injuries, claiming he was in Abuja at the time of the incident. He wrote that he was "doing my Cameraman work jeje" in Abuja. However, Olayinka further stated that if needed, he would personally deal with Sowore for being a nuisance. He made this statement in response to allegations linking him to the attack on Sowore.
Olayinka's comments have drawn widespread criticism, particularly after he justified the attack on Sowore for calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal. In a post on November 2, 2026, he asked, "A man is calling your father a criminal without being convicted by any court. If you come see the man and slap him, is it bad?" He also stated that if it's convenient to call someone's father a criminal, it should also be convenient to receive "small small slaps" from that person's children.
The aide to the FCT Minister continued to challenge Sowore, suggesting he visit motor parks in Lagos or Atikankan in Ado-Ekiti and publicly describe President Tinubu as a criminal. Olayinka wrote, "Imagine it was a prominent APC supporter that chopped MORO in Ekiti over the weekend... The story would have been; ‘ANGRY Nigerians attack APC Chieftain In Ekiti’." He ended the challenge with, "I wan check something."
Olayinka's statements have been seen as threatening and inciting violence against Sowore. His Facebook posts have sparked a heated debate, with many condemning his remarks. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of human rights activists and the level of tolerance for criticism in Nigeria.
The violent attack on Sowore and his team has been widely condemned, with many calling for an investigation into the incident. Sowore has described the attack as an attempt to silence him. The incident has sparked a national conversation about the state of human rights and freedom of speech in Nigeria.
The development has also raised questions about the role of aides to high-ranking government officials in promoting or condoning violence against critics. Olayinka's statements have been seen as a reflection of a broader culture of intolerance and aggression towards those who criticize the government or its officials.
Key points
- Lere Olayinka's statements suggest he'd personally assault Omoyele Sowore for calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal.
- The incident has raised concerns about the safety of human rights activists and the level of tolerance for criticism in Nigeria.
- Olayinka's comments have sparked widespread criticism and condemnation.
