When Propaganda Failed: How Silence Betrayed the Campaign Against Egbetokun

In Nigeria’s modern political and media environment, public figures often find themselves subjected to intense scrutiny. Criticism, accountability, and public debate are essential pillars of democracy. However, there are moments when criticism crosses the line into calculated campaigns of disinformation, propaganda, and deliberate character assassination.

The controversy surrounding former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, now appears to be one of those moments.

For months, Nigerians witnessed a relentless media campaign aimed at discrediting the former police chief. From sensational headlines to coordinated social media narratives, the objective appeared obvious: damage the reputation of a man whose policing career spanned decades of service, sacrifice, and professional commitment to the Nigerian state.

Today, however, the sudden silence from many of those voices has exposed the campaign for what it truly was.Among the loudest promoters of the attacks was Omoyele Sowore and his media platform.

The moment Egbetokun attained the age of 60 in September 2024, he was immediately branded an “illegal IGP” by activists and commentators who neither possessed constitutional authority nor the legal mandate to interpret the law beyond the courts.Yet Nigeria is governed by laws, not media outrage, activism, or social media campaigns.

The legal position regarding the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police was already clear. Section 7(6) of the Nigeria Police Act guarantees a four-year tenure for an appointed Inspector-General of Police. More importantly, the Nigeria Police Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced Section 18(8A), which expressly clarified that an Inspector-General of Police shall complete the statutory tenure attached to the office regardless of retirement rules concerning age or years of service.

That amendment became law in July 2024, months before Egbetokun turned 60.This single legal reality fundamentally weakened the narrative being aggressively promoted in certain political and media circles. The amendment was neither hidden nor ambiguous. It was publicly enacted legislation designed specifically to avoid instability and unnecessary disruptions in police leadership.

What makes the entire episode even more revealing is what did not happen.Despite the daily outrage, media pressure, protests, interviews, and repeated declarations that Egbetokun was “occupying office illegally,” no serious legal challenge was successfully pursued against his tenure. Ironically, many of those leading the media attacks were already frequent visitors to the Federal High Court in Abuja on various matters.If the appointment was truly unconstitutional, why was there no decisive judicial confrontation?

The answer appears increasingly obvious: those driving the narrative likely understood that the law itself did not support their claims.Even more revealing is the silence surrounding the current Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who reportedly turned 60 on April 13, 2026. During interviews around the Federal High Court, Abuja, Sowore publicly threatened to also label Disu an “illegal IGP.”Yet weeks later, that threat has remained largely rhetorical.

No sustained media outrage. No coordinated campaigns. No daily headlines. No dramatic accusations.That silence has unintentionally exposed what many Nigerians had already begun to suspect: the attacks against Egbetokun may never have been about constitutional principles alone, but rather selective outrage shaped by other motives.

Today, Egbetokun appears more peaceful and relaxed in retirement. Curiously, many of the dramatic allegations and sensational “exposés” that once flooded social media have suddenly disappeared. The circulation of questionable police documents has faded. The orchestrated scandals have evaporated. The noise has reduced because the mission the propaganda served has apparently ended.

History, however, has a unique way of exposing conspiracies and separating truth from manufactured narratives.The Holy Bible states in Proverbs 24:8: “He who plots evil will be called a schemer.” Proverbs 26:27 further warns: “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.”These verses resonate strongly with the events that unfolded around the former police chief.

Many of the allegations levelled against Egbetokun gradually collapsed under public scrutiny, reinforcing the belief among his supporters that much of the campaign was carefully designed to tarnish the image of a career police officer who devoted much of his life to national service.

This is not to suggest that public officials should be shielded from criticism. Far from it. In every democracy, scrutiny remains necessary for transparency and accountability. But there is an important distinction between constructive criticism and a coordinated attempt to destroy reputations through misinformation, exaggeration, and politically motivated propaganda.

As Nigeria continues to strengthen its democratic institutions, the media and civil society must also recognize the responsibility that comes with influence. Activism is powerful, but when mixed with selective outrage and unverified narratives, it risks undermining public trust and weakening legitimate democratic engagement.

Now retired, Egbetokun can enjoy the peace that often accompanies a clear conscience and years of service rendered to one’s nation. More importantly, Nigeria still needs experienced professionals like him. His institutional knowledge, policing expertise, and strategic understanding of national security remain valuable assets that can still contribute meaningfully to the country’s security architecture and public sector development.

In the end, truth possesses a stubborn quality that propaganda can never permanently suppress.Campaigns fade. Narratives collapse. Silence eventually speaks.And sometimes, silence exposes the conspiracy more loudly than words ever could.