The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony C. Okocha, has launched a strong attack on Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, describing him as a “notorious crisis merchant” and calling for his arrest and prosecution.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Okocha accused Sowore of consistently spreading “falsehoods, propaganda, and blackmail” under the guise of activism. He alleged that Sowore had built his career around fabricating stories to malign political leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Okocha cited recent allegations published against Tinubu and Wike, dismissing them as “baseless rantings of a man rejected by Nigerians at the polls.” He also accused Sowore of facing multiple criminal charges, including forgery, cybercrime, and defamation, which according to him, disqualified the activist from making credible interventions in national discourse.
“Omoyele Sowore is best understood as a blackmailer whose stock in trade includes blatant lies, forgery, and baseless incitements,” Okocha said. “He must be exposed, arrested, and prosecuted.”
The APC Rivers chairman recalled Sowore’s #RevolutionNow movement in 2019, describing it as a “thinly veiled coup attempt” aimed at destabilising the country. He further raised questions about Sowore’s sources of funding, alleging foreign sponsorship and money laundering.
Defending the Tinubu administration, Okocha highlighted what he called the achievements of the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” including the student loan scheme, infrastructure projects such as the Lagos–Calabar expressway, agricultural support programmes, and improvements in security. He also praised Wike’s performance as FCT Minister, describing him as a “goal-getter and development agent” whose work was transforming Abuja into a global-standard capital city.
Concluding, Okocha urged Nigerians to reject what he termed Sowore’s “dangerous provocations” and support the federal government’s ongoing reforms.
“Activism is not rascalism nor infantilism,” Okocha said. “Spreading fake news with clear intention to defame others is unacceptable. Any attempt to incite Nigerians against the government is treasonable.”
The press statement comes amid continuing political tensions between Sowore and key figures in government, as the activist remains a vocal critic of both President Tinubu and Minister Wike.
