Lekan Fatodu leads protest against media organisation

Lekan Fatodu, journalist and PR consultant, led hundreds of anti-fake news protesters to the newly opened office of online media organisation, Sahara Reporters, who he described as "extremely negative and falsehood-peddling", in Lagos.

Recall that the online medium's publisher, Sowore Omoyele, was arrested in January 2017 for criminal defamation, blackmail, and threatening Fatodu's life.

Addressing the crowd during the protest, Fatodu said it had become absolutely necessary to raise serious awareness on the danger of fake news which he said was not only bad for the health of the nation but also troubling for the well-being of the populace.

"It should be very well stated that this is the first anti-fake, anti-blackmail and cyberbullying campaign in Nigeria. And there's no better time to speak in loud voice on the grave danger of the trend of fake news than this critical moment.

"If you notice, countries of the West that are well advanced are disturbed by this and are working on how to hinder the advancement of the ugly phenomenon.

"Therefore we in this part of the developing world should be more worried. And we don't need to wait for the government on how to tackle this dangerous development. Consequences of fake news are as bad for the health of the nation as they are bad for the general well-being of the populace.

"Also, this location which is part of the route for this walk is symbolic because the building we are looking at 13B Isaac John GRA Ikeja is the office of Sahara Reporters, the headquarters of fake news in Nigeria which is run by the most notorious blackmailer in the history of Nigeria, Sowore Omoyele. It was inside that building I got Sowore arrested in January and the case is still in Panti police station.

"I've written to Governor Ambode on the criminality that goes on in this property. Interestingly, the respected Nobel Laureate, Profesor Wole Soyinka had also warned that Sowore should toe the path of rectitude because now that his address is known he can easily be picked up when he commits any wrongful acts.

"I'm leading this critical discussion because I'm a lucky survivor of Sowore's malicious fake news, criminal blackmail and violence. So I believe with this effort we can attract more critical stakeholders to join the conversation and save many other innocent souls from destructive news peddlers, and thereby deepen peace and order in the society".

Sahara Reporters, which has been operating from the United States before now, launched its office in Lagos about three weeks ago.