Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, over a controversial social media post.

This was announced in a statement on Tuesday by Gboyega Akosile, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

The statement, titled “Governor Sanwo-Olu Suspends Aide”, stated that Ajetunmobi’s suspension stemmed from “the misrepresentation of facts on his personal X account concerning a past incident.”

Akosile emphasized that the Sanwo-Olu administration does not condone extra-judicial actions, saying, “We frown at any form of extra-judicial punishment and will not be a part of any such action. That is not who we are. That is not our way.”

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The Controversial Tweet

The controversy began when Premium Times reported a now-deleted tweet by Ajetunmobi on his X account, #Riddwane, regarding the arsonists involved in the 2020 burning of Television Continental (TVC) during the #EndSARS protests.

In the tweet, Ajetunmobi alleged that many of the perpetrators were “hunted down and executed.” He claimed that one of the individuals, a young cooking gas trader from Ketu, was found with an AK-47 rifle.

The tweet read,”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.

“One of them, a young boy trading in cooking gas around Ketu, was found with an AK-47 at the site. Even his neighbors were shocked. But the full gist is better saved for later.”

Ajetunmobi later defended the statement, claiming that the use of “executed” was misunderstood, adding that some arsonists were killed during exchanges of gunfire with soldiers.

Public Backlash and Clarification

The tweet sparked outrage, with many condemning the implication of extra-judicial killings.

Early Tuesday, Ajetunmobi responded, describing his original post as his “personal opinion” and not a reflection of his employer’s stance.

In a follow-up tweet, he stated, “This excerpt was quoted out of context and there were series of comments made under the same post, which better explained what was intended.

“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.

“What was written in the entire conversation reflected personal opinion and not the position of any authority or the entity in which I work.”

Ajetunmobi clarified that the tweet and subsequent comments had already been deleted before the report.

Akosile reiterated that the government will not tolerate actions that misrepresent its values or imply support for unlawful practices.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic trajectory following the release of the third-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report revealed that Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.46% in Q3 2024, an improvement from the 3.19% recorded in the second quarter, signaling continued recovery and growth amidst economic reforms.

He described the development as a sign that his administration’s reforms are yielding results while reaffirming his commitment to building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

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In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, President Tinubu expressed optimism about the country’s economic prospects but acknowledged that more work remains.

“I am excited by the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics that our economy grew in the third quarter more than last quarter and even beyond projected estimates,” Tinubu said. “While I welcome this development, the latest figure also shows the much work that needs to be done. We won’t rest until Nigerians feel the positive impacts in their pockets and experience a better living standard.”

The President reaffirmed his administration’s pledge to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030, emphasizing that an upcoming rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP in 2025 would highlight structural changes and pave the way for shared prosperity.

“Once the economy is rebased by early 2025 to capture its dynamism and record significant changes that have occurred in different sectors, the country will be on its way to shared prosperity,” he stated.

Tinubu also pointed to proposed tax reforms as a critical tool for driving equity and inclusive growth. He highlighted plans to ease the tax burden on small businesses and tackle the “headquarters effect,” where states housing corporate headquarters disproportionately benefit from tax revenues.

“The proposed tax reforms demonstrate our resolve to reduce the tax burden on small businesses and promote equity,” Tinubu said.

The President reiterated his commitment to ensuring that economic growth translates into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians, stressing that his administration remains focused on creating opportunities and reducing poverty across the country.

In a summit in Fiuggi, Italy, G7 foreign ministers are meeting for two days to discuss a variety of global challenges, including the recent arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who is hosting the conference, stated on Monday that he does not expect difficulty in reaching a consensus on the matter.

“It’s not an immediate and actual problem. I don’t think Netanyahu will come to Italy or anywhere else,” Tajani told Corriere della Sera, downplaying the potential significance of the arrest warrant.

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The ICC issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu, recently dismissed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, following allegations of war crimes connected to the ongoing Gaza conflict.

While Israel’s allies have criticized the decision, ICC member states are expected to uphold the warrants, despite ongoing debates about how to address Netanyahu’s case.

Along with the Middle East crisis, the G7 ministers will also discuss key global issues such as the war in Ukraine, the potential impact of a Donald Trump re-election, and the growing tensions surrounding Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.

This summit, the final G7 foreign ministers’ meeting of the year, comes as Italy holds the G7 presidency until the end of December, making it a critical moment for the group to align on these significant global concerns.