When Nyesom Wike opens his mouth, you know he won’t sugarcoat anything, this time, the FCT Minister went straight for Omoyele Sowore, telling him in clear words that he is only “lucky” Bola Tinubu is in charge. According to Wike, another president in Nigeria would not only take offense at Sowore calling him a “criminal” on social media, he would lock him up without blinking.
The Price of Free Speech in Nigeria
Sowore is no stranger to controversy. He has been dragged in and out of courtrooms for years, accused of treason, cybercrimes, and everything else the state can find. His recent tweet calling Tinubu a “criminal” sparked fresh trouble, with the DSS filing charges and even trying to get social media companies to pull the post down. But Sowore refused, insisting the government just wants to silence dissent.
Now Wike has entered the ring, almost mocking Sowore’s survival. “You are lucky,” he said, more than once. Lucky that Tinubu “believes in rule of law.” Lucky that Nigeria is not under a president who would jail him instantly. But if you really think about it, Wike’s words are not reassurance, they are a warning. In Nigeria, free speech is never free, it is only tolerated until the wrong man is in power.
Wike’s Style of Politics
The way Wike framed it says a lot about how politicians in Nigeria view power. He compared Tinubu to Trump, claiming no American dares to call their president a criminal online. That is simply not true, Americans drag their leaders daily. But Wike’s statement is less about fact and more about control. He believes criticism of a president is dangerous, disrespectful, even jail-worthy. And if that is his mindset as a minister, what hope does free speech really have when leaders treat citizens like subjects who should “be lucky”?
Sowore is the perfect punching bag for politicians like Wike. He is loud, fearless, and unafraid to call names. By going after him, the government tests how much resistance Nigerians will tolerate when freedom is curbed. Today it’s Sowore. Tomorrow it could be any Nigerian who dares to call out corruption, broken promises, or the hypocrisy of leaders who spend billions on roads while hospitals rot.
Why Wike’s Warning Matters
The bigger story here is not about Sowore’s tweet or Tinubu’s ego. It is about the direction Nigeria is heading. Wike’s statement tells Nigerians plainly: your freedom exists only because your president allows it. That means dissent is not a right but a privilege, and privileges can be withdrawn at will. It is a chilling reminder that our democracy still carries the soul of dictatorship.
