President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to press freedom and free speech, declaring that no journalist or citizen should face reprisal simply for criticising him or his government.
In his Democracy Day address to a joint session of the National Assembly, the President stated that while malicious slander and libel must not go unaddressed, “no one should bear the brunt of injustice for merely writing a bad report about me or calling me names.”
He added: “Call me names, call me whatever you will, and I will still call upon democracy to defend your right to do so. Democracy requires a fair degree of tolerance for harsh words and stinging insults.”
President Tinubu emphasised that suppressing dissenting voices undermines democracy. “Do not be afraid to hear an unkind word spoken against you,” 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.”
The President described criticism, even harsh criticism as vital to democratic health, noting that some of the best advice a politician receives can come from fierce opponents. He positioned himself as a longstanding defender of free expression and a free press, insisting that these rights remain non-negotiable under his administration.
At the same time, he urged journalists and citizens to exercise these freedoms responsibly, stressing that press freedom is not a licence to deliberately mislead the public or defame others without basis.
The statement comes amid ongoing national conversations about the role of the media in holding government accountable and the need to protect the space for open public discourse.