Tinubu to critics: “Call me names, I will still defend your right”

By Paul Dada

President Bola Tinubu says he will not seek to silence the voices of those who criticise him when they use harsh words.

Tinubu who said this while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday, told political leaders to be tolerant and broad-minded.

He said “We must be vigilant in expanding the political space. We must always value dialogue over dictatorship, persuasion over suppression and rights over might. 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. Some of the best advice a politician gets sometimes comes from his most ferocious opponents. 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.

“While malicious slander and libel should not go unattended, 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. Call me names, call me whatever you will, and I will still call upon democracy to defend your right to do so.”