Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Wale Ajetunmobi, following a controversial tweet on his personal “X” (formerly Twitter) account. The announcement was made on Tuesday in a statement issued by Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity.
The suspension stems from Ajetunmobi’s claim that individuals allegedly involved in the 2020 #EndSARS protest arson attack on Television Continental (TVC) had been “hunted down and executed.” Akosile emphasized that the governor’s administration does not condone extrajudicial actions.
Statement from the Governor
“The Governor wishes to state categorically that his administration frowns at any form of extrajudicial punishment and will not be a part of any such action,” Akosile stated. “That is not who we are. That is not our way.”
Controversial Tweet
The controversy arose after Ajetunmobi, tweeting under the handle #Riddwane, posted about the aftermath of the arson attack on TVC during the #EndSARS protests. He alleged that most of the arsonists had been executed and mentioned a specific case involving a young trader from Ketu.
The tweet read:
“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 neighbours were shocked. But the full gist is better saved for later.”
Backlash and Suspension
The tweet sparked widespread outrage, with critics questioning the veracity of Ajetunmobi’s claims and the implication of state-backed extrajudicial killings.
In response, the Lagos State Government distanced itself from the comments, affirming its commitment to due process and justice. Governor Sanwo-Olu’s suspension of Ajetunmobi underscores the administration’s disapproval of the claims made by its aide.
The incident has reignited discussions about the handling of the 2020 #EndSARS protests and the role of public officials in shaping narratives around sensitive issues.
