Prince Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, has criticised Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), after Olayinka mocked activist Omoyele Sowore’s advocacy for the legalisation of cannabis.
Olayinka had ridiculed Sowore, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the African Action Congress (AAC), over his campaign pledge to legalise cannabis as a revenue source for Nigeria.
In a Facebook post, Olayinka accused Sowore of planning to turn citizens into “weed smokers,” and in a mocking tone added in Yoruba, “Awon President Igbolabi” (loosely translated as “president of smokers”).
Isaac Fayose fired back in the comment section, saying Olayinka lacked basic understanding of cannabis and its global relevance. He explained that cannabis contributes greatly to the world economy and is already a component of widely used pharmaceutical products, including painkillers.
According to Fayose, marijuana is money “anywhere in the world” and should not be reduced to a subject of ridicule. He pointed out that the herb is used in Panadol and other drugs.
He went further to compare Olayinka with Nigerian music icons such as Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, who have admitted to smoking cannabis but, in his words, “have brought more value and recognition to Nigeria than Olayinka and his entire generation.”
The younger Fayose did not mince words in his description of Olayinka, calling him an “illiterate cobbler turned journalist” who has no grasp of the medical and economic opportunities cannabis presents.
Fayose stated, “Local boy… Weed is money anywhere in the world. It is in your Panadol and other pharmaceutical products. Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy and others who smoke weed are far more valuable than you and your entire generation. Only an illiterate cobbler turned journalist will see this as a big deal.”
The debate over cannabis in Nigeria resurfaced after Sowore, a publisher and activist, restated his campaign promise in 2023 that, if elected, he would transform the country into a hub for marijuana export.
A video of Sowore speaking at a midweek programme organised by a non-governmental group quickly circulated online, reigniting discussions about cannabis policy in Nigeria.
In his speech, Sowore argued that while several countries are making billions of dollars annually from cannabis, Nigeria still criminalises its cultivation and use through agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The outspoken activist admitted that his stance was controversial but insisted he was ready to debate the subject in detail.
“We have to start taking care of our weed (Igbo) so we can also contribute to global GDP,” Sowore said. “Some of the best weed in the world grows in Ekiti State. I am serious. People are making billions from that very plant that thrives in Nigeria, and we should be paying attention to it.”
He added that the NDLEA should be preparing for a future in which Nigeria would be exporting marijuana for cancer treatment and other medicinal purposes, rather than targeting local growers.
“Instead of chasing people cultivating weed, why not chase politicians in Nigeria who are sitting at home sniffing cocaine?” Sowore concluded.
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