By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has faulted a letter from the Department of State Services (DSS) demanding the retraction of a social media post critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The DSS had written to Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, asking him to delete what it described as a “criminal, false, and malicious” post on X and Facebook.
Reacting in a statement posted on his X handle on September 12, 2025, Sowore described the letter as “a horrendous attempt at holding an unwarranted brief for the President,” insisting that the DSS had no legal authority to act on behalf of Tinubu.
He argued that defamation is a personal tort that can only be pursued by the alleged victim in court, citing past rulings affirming that security agencies cannot act as proxies in such matters.
Tracing his history of alleged persecution by the DSS since the 1990s, Sowore accused the agency of consistently operating outside its mandate and acting as a tool of political repression. He recalled his detentions during military rule, his arrest in 2019 over treason allegations, and what he described as repeated violations of his fundamental rights.
Sowore further invoked constitutional provisions and international human rights rulings that uphold freedom of expression, stressing that criticism of public officials is central to democracy.
“The DSS has no business telling me how to criticise the President,” he stated, adding that attempts to silence dissent would not succeed.
Reaffirming his stance, he concluded with the words: “Freedom cometh by struggle. Aluta continua, victoria ascerta.”
