Presidency: Tinubu Is Committed to Free Speech, Democratic Dialogue
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — The Presidency, on Monday in the ancient city of Kano says Tinubu’s administration remains a defender of free speech and democratic engagement.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Public Enlightenment, AbdulAziz AbdulAziz who spoke at Arewa Media Summit declared that the administration is open to dialogue, and views constructive engagement between leaders and citizens as indispensable to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz stated that the summit was conceived in line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to promoting free expression, inclusive dialogue and democratic consolidation.
“The summit was arranged in the spirit of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to free speech, dialogue and deepening democracy. It is designed to interrogate the often contentious two-way traffic that is the relationship between leaders and the led in a democracy,” AbdulAziz said.
He described President Tinubu as a veteran of Nigeria’s democratic struggle whose belief in the plurality of opinions and the protection of free expression has remained consistent over the years.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a veteran of the democratic struggle, is an unalloyed believer in plurality of opinion and the guaranteed place of free expression and dialogue,” he said.
AbdulAziz noted that the summit brought together journalists, policymakers, digital content creators and other stakeholders from across Northern Nigeria to encourage robust discussions on the media’s role in democratic governance.
He said the organisers deliberately ensured representation from every state in the region to reflect Northern Nigeria’s diversity and enrich conversations on the relationship between government, the media and the public.
While acknowledging that not everyone who expressed interest could be accommodated, he said the summit sought to aggregate different shades of opinion within the media and information ecosystem.
The presidential aide maintained that democracy flourishes when governments remain open to scrutiny and citizens have access to credible information and platforms for meaningful engagement.
He added that expanding access to information and sustaining dialogue would help bridge information gaps often exploited by purveyors of misinformation and disinformation.
AbdulAziz also challenged journalists and social media influencers to exercise greater responsibility in the discharge of their duties, urging them to verify information before publication and correct inaccuracies whenever they occur.
He warned that as the 2027 general elections approach, ethical communication would become even more critical to preserving public trust and national cohesion.
Speaking at the summit, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, said the future of Northern Nigeria would be shaped not only by infrastructure and economic development but also by the narratives projected about the region.
“The future of Northern Nigeria will not be determined only by the quality of our roads, our farms or our industries. It will also be shaped by the quality of our ideas and the stories we tell about ourselves,” Idris said.
The minister stressed that responsible journalism remains indispensable to democracy, national unity and economic progress, urging media practitioners to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness and verification in the face of growing misinformation.
“Falsehood often travels faster than truth. That is why professional journalism has never been more important,” he added.