Nobody Should Suffer Injustice for Calling Me Names, Tinubu Says on Democracy Day
President Tinubu has declared that critics should not face injustice for writing bad reports or calling him names.
Speaking during a special address at the National Assembly to commemorate June 12 Democracy Day, Tinubu emphasised that democratic leadership requires tolerance for dissent — even when it comes in the form of harsh words.
The president urged lawmakers to resist the temptation to suppress criticism, stressing that dialogue, persuasion, and openness must guide the country’s democratic journey.
“No one should bear the brunt of injustice for merely writing a bad report about me or calling me names,” Tinubu told the gathering of lawmakers. “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,” he said.
He added that even the fiercest opponents sometimes offer the most valuable insights.
“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.”
While condemning malicious slander and libel, Tinubu warned against creating a culture of fear and repression.
“The imposed silence of repressed voices breeds chaos and ill will, not the harmonics of democracy in the long term,” he said.
