The Afenifere Youth Coalition has criticised the former African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over his recent comment about the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
Sowore, in a post on his official X handle on Wednesday, referred to Egbetokun as an ‘illegal IGP’, prompting the police chief to file cybercrime charges against the publisher.
In a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Friday, the group’s coordinator, Adebayo Salami, said Sowore’s attack on the IGP was part of a larger agenda to destabilise the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Salami described Sowore’s actions as unacceptable, adding that he has built a career on harassing, defaming, and undermining public officials.
He said, “Recently, Sowore posted a self-indicting video showing him resisting and obstructing public officers performing their duties, disobeying lawful orders, cyberstalking, and attempting to prevent arrests. His attack on the IGP is not just a random act of provocation; it is part of his larger plan to destabilise the administration of President Bola Tinubu. This is unacceptable, and as Yoruba youths committed to the peace and progress of our land, we refuse to sit idly by while such reckless behaviour continues unchecked.
“It is undeniable that Sowore thrives on controversy, baseless activism, and political blackmail. His entire career revolves around inciting protests, misleading the public, and portraying himself as a hero of democracy while actually serving the interests of anyone willing to pay his price.
“Moreover, he is a bitter loser who has repeatedly failed at the polls and now seeks relevance by attacking those in government. His inability to secure even a fraction of national support during his presidential run under the African Action Congress (AAC) exposed his lack of leadership capacity.
“Instead of engaging in constructive opposition, he has chosen the path of malicious falsehoods, cyberbullying, and outright defamation. Undoubtedly, his actions show that he is more interested in anarchy than governance. His threats to bring down President Tinubu’s government are not just reckless but also a clear indication of his anti-democratic tendencies.
“Sowore’s penchant for false accusations and digital harassment has finally caught up with him. The 16-count cybercrime charges filed against him are evidence of his continued abuse of online platforms to spread lies and incite chaos. Nevertheless, instead of addressing these charges maturely, Sowore continues to play the victim while misleading his gullible supporters.”
The group commended Egbetokun for choosing legal redress rather than resorting to intimidation or abuse of power, adding that the law should take its course on Sowore’s accusations.
“It is worth noting that while IGP Kayode Egbetokun has shown maturity and respect for the rule of law by taking legal action against him, Sowore has chosen to manipulate public sentiment by playing the victim card and making unrepentant noises on his social media handles.
“His continued defamation of respected public figures must be checked. Apparently, his pattern of behaviour thrives on falsehood and mischief, which he masks as activism. However, he needs to be educated out of his ignorance and face the reality that activism should be based on facts and sincerity, not personal vendettas and blackmail journalism.
“Indeed, the judiciary must ensure that justice is served and that this case sets a precedent: online defamation, cyberbullying, and targeted harassment will no longer be tolerated. The era where social media is used as a weapon of political sabotage must come to an end,” the statement concluded.
