Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has refuted claims that he labeled Nigerians as “sore losers” in relation to the ongoing #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests.
In a statement released on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kayode Akinmade, Abiodun described the allegations as fabricated, malicious, and devoid of any rational basis.
Governor Abiodun clarified that his remarks were directed at certain 2023 election losers who are exploiting the discontent of Nigerian youths to destabilize the country. He emphasized that at no point in his interview with Channels TV did he refer to ordinary Nigerians expressing their grievances over the economic situation as sore losers.
The statement underscored Governor Abiodun’s long-standing appreciation for Nigerian youths, students, and workers, whom he holds in high regard and frequently praises. It also highlighted that his comments were taken out of context by political opponents of President Bola Tinubu, who are now using sponsored attacks to discredit him.
“The claim that Governor Abiodun insulted ordinary Nigerians is spurious, malicious, and lacks any rational basis,” the statement read. “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.”
Governor Abiodun reiterated that while he did mention “sore losers,” he was specifically referring to opposition leaders who oppose the current administration and urged them to prepare for the 2027 elections instead of discrediting government policies to incite public unrest.
“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,” the statement continued.
“Governor Abiodun has the utmost respect for the protesters, and he has made that clear on many occasions.”
