Sanwo-Olu Suspends Media Aide Over

Sanwo-Olu Suspends Media Aide Over Controversial Social Media Post

 

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, following allegations of misrepresentation in a social media post. The suspension was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by Gboyega Akosile, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

 

The statement, titled “Governor Sanwo-Olu Suspends Aide,”* cited Ajetunmobi’s suspension as a response to his comments on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account, which were deemed inappropriate and misleading.

 

The Controversial Post

Premium Times had reported that Ajetunmobi, tweeting under the handle #Riddwane, made remarks regarding the 2020 #EndSARS protests. Specifically, he claimed that individuals involved in burning down the Television Continental (TVC) station in Lagos had been “hunted down and executed.” The post also included allegations that one of the alleged arsonists, a young boy trading cooking gas in Ketu, was found with an AK-47 rifle.

 

Ajetunmobi wrote:

“The full story of people who burnt down TVC in 2020 will be told one day, with gory clips and images. One thing to note: majority of them have been hunted down and executed. One of them, a young boy trading in cooking gas around Ketu, was found with an AK-47 at the site. Even his neighbors were shocked. But the full gist is better saved for later.”

 

His statements drew significant backlash, with an X user identified as #hamoye4real asking, “Are you in the know of extra-judicial killings?”* In response, Ajetunmobi appeared to justify his comments, stating that soldiers engaged in exchanges of fire with the arsonists, resulting in their deaths. He further argued that these incidents did not amount to extra-judicial killings.

 

Government’s Reaction

The Lagos State government swiftly distanced itself from Ajetunmobi’s remarks. Akosile emphasized that the Sanwo-Olu administration strongly opposes any form of extra-judicial action.

 

“The Sanwo-Olu-led administration frowns at any form of extra-judicial punishment and will not be part of any such action. That is not who we are. That is not our way,”* the statement read.

 

Ajetunmobi’s comments on his X account were later deleted, but not before sparking widespread criticism and debate over the potential implications of his statements.

 

Ajetunmobi’s Clarification

In the early hours of Tuesday, Ajetunmobi issued a clarification on his X account, stating that his initial post was misunderstood and that the word “executed” had been used erroneously. He asserted that his comments were personal opinions and did not reflect the views of his employer or his office.

 

He tweeted:

“This excerpt was quoted out of context and there were series of comments made under the same post, which better explained what was intended. Like I did further explain in the said tweet, no extra-judicial killing was insinuated. The word ‘executed’ was erroneously used and not intended in the context of that casual conversation.”

 

He further explained that the post, along with related comments, had been taken down before the controversy gained traction.

 

Sanwo-Olu’s Firm Stance

Governor Sanwo-Olu’s decision to suspend Ajetunmobi underscores his administration’s commitment to ethical governance and responsible communication. The governor’s office reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for actions or statements that could misrepresent the administration or promote unlawful practices.

 

The incident serves as a reminder of the power of social media and the responsibility public officials bear in ensuring their statements align with the principles of justice, accountability, and transparency.