Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has praised President Bola Tinubu for advocating tolerance toward critics and political opponents. In a statement on Saturday, Adeyanju described Tinubu’s remarks in Benue State as a commendable shift from the traditional pattern of intolerance and abuse of power in Nigerian politics. He highlighted the President’s directive to security agencies not to punish a man who confronted him in Kaduna as an encouraging example of democratic leadership.
Adeyanju emphasized the importance of leaders respecting opposing views, asserting that a healthy democracy thrives on freedom of expression. He called on religious leaders, traditional rulers, and political stakeholders to emulate the President’s stance and support Nigerians’ right to speak freely. He criticized the police and other security agencies for being used as tools to intimidate critics and demanded an immediate end to such practices.
Concluding his statement, Adeyanju urged President Tinubu to champion the decriminalization of defamation laws in Nigeria, arguing that true democracy can only be sustained when citizens are guaranteed freedom of speech and protection from retaliation after expressing their views.
