Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced the suspension of his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, following controversial statements made by the aide on his personal social media account. The suspension, which was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, follows the misrepresentation of facts related to a past incident that occurred during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
According to Akosile’s statement, Ajetunmobi’s remarks “misrepresented facts” regarding the 2020 arson attack on Television Continental (TVC) station, which was set ablaze by protesters during the height of the #EndSARS protests. The statement also emphasized that the Sanwo-Olu-led administration “frowns at any form of extra-judicial punishment” and strongly disassociates itself from any such actions.
“This is not who we are. That is not our way,” Akosile reiterated, underscoring the administration’s commitment to lawful and transparent actions. The statement did not elaborate further on whether Ajetunmobi would face any further disciplinary measures.
Ajetunmobi’s suspension stems from a tweet he posted on his personal X account, where he shared claims that those responsible for burning down TVC had been “hunted down and executed.” The tweet was published on Sunday, November 24, 2024, under his online alias, #Riddwane. In the post, Ajetunmobi also implicated a young boy involved in the arson, alleging that he was found in possession of an AK-47 rifle and had been among those executed.
“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,” Ajetunmobi wrote in his tweet. “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,” he added.
Following the tweet, the controversial statements stirred reactions from the public, including one user identified as #hamoye4real, who questioned whether Ajetunmobi was aware of the implications of extra-judicial killings. In response, the suspended aide downplayed the accusation, asserting, “What is extra-judicial killing here? Some of the people were chased by soldiers, and an exchange of fire occurred. Then arsonists were overpowered and killed in the process. Others ran away. Is that an extra-judicial killing to you?”
The tweet caused further backlash, with many questioning the legitimacy of Ajetunmobi’s claims, especially in light of the official stance of the Lagos State government. The situation was complicated by the fact that the TVC arson attack was a widely publicized incident, with significant damages incurred at the station’s headquarters in Ketu, Lagos.
A check of Ajetunmobi’s X account by *PUNCH Online* on Tuesday revealed that the controversial tweet had since been deleted. In addition, Ajetunmobi issued a follow-up clarification early on Tuesday, explaining that the word “executed” was “erroneously used” and clarifying that the post reflected only his “personal opinion” and not the stance of his office or the state government.
“This excerpt was quoted out of context and there were series of comments made under the same post, which better explained what was intended,” Ajetunmobi wrote in the tweet. He continued, “Like I did further explained in the said tweet, no extra-judicial killing was insinuated. The word ‘executed’ was erroneously used and not intended in the context of that casual conversation.”
Ajetunmobi’s clarification, however, failed to quell the controversy, as many social media users remained skeptical about the content and tone of his original message. Some questioned whether the aide was attempting to downplay the severity of his initial comments, while others were concerned about the implications of the word “executed” being used in reference to a sensitive national issue.
The incident also reignited discussion about the 2020 #EndSARS protests and the subsequent violence that followed, which included the torching of TVC’s headquarters. At the time of the arson, over 250 staff members of TVC were unable to work, and the station’s infrastructure, including transmission equipment and operational vehicles, were severely damaged. The arson attack on TVC was one of several major incidents during the protests, which were sparked by demands for an end to police brutality.
In a report published by *PUNCH Online* on October 30, 2020, TVC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Andrew Hanlon, detailed the extent of the damage caused by the arsonists, noting that the company had been forced to relocate its operations to temporary accommodations. Over 500 employees had been impacted by the attack, and the station was struggling to resume full operations.
Governor Sanwo-Olu visited the TVC management and staff shortly after the attack, expressing solidarity with the station’s efforts to recover and rebuild. His administration pledged support to help the station restore its operations, though the incident remains a painful chapter in the city’s history, particularly for the media community.
