Tinubu: No One Should Face Injustice for Insulting Me

President Bola Tinubu has said that no citizen should face injustice for criticising or calling him names, stressing the importance of free speech in a democratic society.

Speaking during a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, June 12, Tinubu urged lawmakers to uphold civil liberties and show tolerance in their legislative actions.

“Be tolerant and broad-minded in your legislative action regarding speech and civil liberties. Do not be afraid to hear an unkind word spoken against you,” he told the lawmakers.

He added that some of the best advice politicians receive often comes from their fiercest critics. “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,” Tinubu said.

While noting that slander and libel must not go unchecked, the president insisted that criticism alone should not lead to injustice.

“No one should bear the brunt of injustice for merely writing a bad report about me or calling me names. Democracy requires a fair degree of tolerance for harsh words and stinging insults,” he stated. “Call me names, call me whatever you will, and I will still call upon democracy to defend your right to do so.”

President Tinubu concluded by reaffirming his belief in Nigeria’s democratic strength, saying: “Our nation is not perfect, but it is strong. 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.”