By Ayomide Otitoju
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Nigerians’ right to free speech, urging security agencies to respect dissenting voices and refrain from targeting critics of his administration.
Delivering his Democracy Day address before a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, the President said democracy must accommodate opposing views, even when harsh or unflattering.
“Democracy requires a fair degree of tolerance for harsh words and stinging insults,” Tinubu said. “Call me names, call me whatever you will, and I will still call upon democracy to defend your right to do so.”
The President cautioned lawmakers and political allies against authoritarian tendencies, calling instead for open dialogue, respect for civil liberties, and prioritisation of persuasion over suppression.
“Be tolerant and broad-minded in your legislative action regarding speech and civil liberties,” he urged.
His remarks come amid widespread criticism of his administration’s handling of press freedom and civil dissent. In the past two years, journalists including Daniel Ojukwu, Adejuwon Soyinka, and Segun Olatunji have reportedly faced detention by security operatives under laws such as the Cybercrime Prohibition Act.
Several civil society organisations, along with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), have condemned what they describe as a resurgence of Gestapo-style arrests reminiscent of Nigeria’s military era. They warn that the pattern undermines the nation’s democratic progress.
Addressing the growing concerns, Tinubu urged resilience in the pursuit of a freer and more just society.
“Do not be afraid to hear an unkind word spoken against you. Some of the best advice a politician gets sometimes comes from his most ferocious opponents,” he said.
“We dare not seek silence because the imposed silence of repressed voices breeds chaos and ill will, not the harmonics of democracy in the long term.”
He also dismissed fears that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party state, insisting that the country’s democratic foundations remain intact.
“Our democracy is not invincible, but it is alive. And this means our dream of a prosperous, happy nation is still within reach and worth fighting for,” the President concluded.
