The Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, has said his principal, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is not weak.

This was after netizens called the governor out on Tuesday for annually tolerating the EndSARS protest memorial at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.

The memorial, held on October 20, was greeted with tear gas from security operatives who dispersed those who gathered to commemorate the event of October 20, 2020, which was against police brutality.

Some netizens, who recalled how protesters in 2020 went on a rampage, burning down infrastructure in Lagos, expressed displeasure at how Governor Sanwo-Olu's administration is handling the situation.

An X user, @HRH_bankeoniru, said, "You are a weak man @jidesanwoolu."

@Midatlblog said, "Completely destroyed everything Fashola and Ambode worked so hard to build. Turned the city upside down."

@Iremidexxx said, "Too weak; he destroyed the legacy built by Fashola and Ambode. Oshodi terminal that once looked like a mini Airport is now degraded; his only job was just to maintain that infrastructure. Apart from isolation centres he built during COVID, I can't really mention any reasonable project he started and completed during his 8 years."

@BlakOlogun31176 said, "My aunty, now you have finally agreed with us that Jide is weak. People thought we were just picking on him for no good reason. Jide is a yoruba-but promax. He is not worth being called a man. He must retire from politics. This one will ruin us. Ibos have burnt BRT BUS again."

@KKenttimo said, "Any Governor that will succeed in Lagos has only one job...total enforcement of Law and Order without caring whose Ox is gored. Once people realise you are not tough with enforcement,it will collapse any goodwill you might have built."

Reacting, Sanwo-Olu's CPS Akosile said what people see as weakness is actually empathy, which is a major component of governance.

He shared on X, "This statement has gone for far too long and I always wonder what some of you want. There are different ways of achieving same results-some use diplomacy while others use force. More often than not, the use of force doesn’t bring about good results. What you call weakness is actually empathy. It is a major component of governance. Governor @jidesanwoolu is a progressive leader, who administers with a human face not with fear."

This statement has gone for far too long and I always wonder what some of you want. There are different ways of achieving same results-some use diplomacy while others use force. More often than not, the use of force doesn’t bring about good results. What you call weakness is actually empathy. It is a major component of governance. Governor @jidesanwoolu is a progressive leader, who administers with a human face not with fear.

— Gboyega Akosile (@gboyegaakosile) October 20, 2026