Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for advocating political tolerance and respect for dissenting voices during his recent visit to Benue State.
In a statement on Saturday, Adeyanju praised the President’s remarks urging politicians to embrace criticism rather than retaliate against it.
He also lauded Tinubu’s directive to security agencies not to take punitive action against a citizen who had rushed toward him during a recent event in Kaduna, describing the move as a notable shift from the entrenched culture of intolerance in Nigerian politics.
“This is a welcome departure from the culture of abuse of power and political vindictiveness,” Adeyanju said. “Leaders at all levels must begin to understand that democracy thrives on the freedom to criticize and to hold the powerful to account.”
He called on religious leaders, traditional rulers, and political actors across the country to take a cue from the President’s remarks by promoting the right of Nigerians to freely express themselves, both before and after making their views known.
Adeyanju further urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to stop being used as tools to suppress dissenting voices. According to him, the habit of arresting and harassing critics at the behest of influential individuals undermines democratic values.
“The President has rightly stated that we must learn from our critics, not persecute them. It is now up to security agencies to align with this new direction and respect the constitutional rights of all Nigerians,” he stated.
Going a step further, Adeyanju called on President Tinubu to spearhead long-overdue reforms to decriminalize defamation in Nigeria. He argued that the threat of imprisonment for expressing opinions continues to stifle free speech and genuine democratic participation.
“True democracy can only take root where citizens enjoy not just the right to speak, but also protection after speaking,” he said. “President Tinubu has a historic opportunity to lead the charge to scrap colonial-era laws that criminalize defamation and silence dissent.”
