The Ogun State Government has dismissed claims that Governor Dapo Abiodun referred to Nigerians as “sore losers” in connection with the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests, labeling such reports as complete fabrications.
According to a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the governor’s comments were directed at certain individuals who lost the 2023 elections and are now allegedly exploiting the dissatisfaction of Nigerian youths to destabilize the country.
The government emphasized that the chaos surrounding the protests in various parts of the country had validated the governor’s stance.
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The statement clarified that during his interview with Channels Television, Governor Abiodun never suggested that ordinary Nigerians expressing their grievances over the economic situation were “sore losers.” It highlighted the governor’s long-standing respect and appreciation for Nigerian youths, students, and workers, whom he has consistently spoken about in positive terms.
The statement also mentioned that the governor had recently commended Ogun residents, especially the youth, for avoiding violent protests and behaving admirably, reiterating his administration’s commitment to their well-being.
The government further accused certain political opponents of President Bola Tinubu of deliberately misrepresenting the governor’s remarks for their own gain and using the ongoing hunger protests to pursue their interests, while also targeting the governor with sponsored attacks.
“The claim that Governor Abiodun insulted ordinary Nigerians is spurious, malicious, and lacks any rational basis. Elementary rules of language indicate that the meaning of an expression resides in its context: Governor Abiodun could not have been referring to ordinary Nigerians as the sponsors of a faceless and leaderless protest,” the statement read.
“While Governor Abiodun did indeed mention sore losers, he was clearly emphasizing irredentist opposition leaders who do not wish the administration well, urging them to prepare for the 2027 polls instead of mindlessly discrediting every government policy just to excite passions and incite people against the government.
“To stretch his use of the word ‘Nigerians’ beyond its intended referents in this context is, therefore, to engage in intellectual fraud and plain mischief.
“Governor Abiodun has the utmost respect for the protesters, and he has made that clear on many occasions.”
