DSS Attempting to Bolster Tinubu's Self-esteem - Sowore Advises Meta to Disregard Facebook Account Deactivation Petition

Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore has sent a petition to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, asking them to ignore a demand by the Department of State Services (DSS) to deactivate his Facebook account. The DSS had made this request due to posts that Sowore made about the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, which they deemed as 'unsavoury'.

However, Sowore's lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has argued that the DSS demand is unlawful and unconstitutional. He warned that compliance with the DSS's request would set a dangerous precedent, potentially undermining Nigeria's democracy and suppressing dissenting voices.

Effiong further argued that the DSS is acting as though it were representing President Tinubu, and if the President feels aggrieved by any publication, he should seek redress in court, not through the DSS. He described the DSS demand as an egregious effort to massage the ego of the Nigerian President and foist tyranny on the country.

Sowore's lawyer urged Meta to resist the DSS's attempt to undermine Nigeria's democracy and uphold the right to freedom of expression. His petition to Meta states that the laws cited by the DSS in its petition are irrelevant, and Sowore's post does not breach Meta's Community Standards.

Several government officials and human rights advocates, including Nigerian lawmakers and international observers, have publicly opposed the DSS's request. They have condemned it as a violation of freedom of speech and demanded respect for democratic rights and due process.

Notably, President Tinubu has not taken any legal action against Sowore, according to Effiong. The DSS wrote to social media giants Meta and X incorporated with this demand, but it remains to be seen whether Meta will comply.

As the situation unfolds, it is clear that Sowore's petition to Meta has sparked a debate about the limits of free speech and the role of the government in regulating online content in Nigeria. The outcome of this case may have significant implications for the future of democracy and the protection of dissenting voices in the country.

DSS Attempting to Bolster Tinubu's Self-esteem - Sowore Advises Meta to Disregard Facebook Account Deactivation Petition