In a defense of the administration’s democratic record on Democracy Day, Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, stated that the federal government has never used state security agencies to target opposition figures and critics or suppress peaceful protesters.
Speaking on Vanguard’s Politics Hub, Ajayi asserted that the administration remains fully committed to upholding civil liberties and expanding democratic freedoms in Nigeria.
Ajayi stressed that essential democratic tenets, including the freedom of expression and freedom of choice, have not been infringed upon or trampled during Tinubu’s time in office.
The aide noted that the President demonstrates high tolerance for dissent, pointing out that the administration would never do anything that will emasculate or destroy democracy in the country. “Have you ever heard that the President went after anybody for abusing him every day? Ajayi asked.
He also pointed to President Tinubu’s personal history in defence of his democratic credentials, describing the president as one of the architects of Nigeria’s democracy who “went on exile for it” and “put his life on it.”
According to him, the Tinubu administration is committed to enriching, expanding and making democracy flourish.
Ajayi further addressed recent public protests, arguing that the government has not used state security to silence dissent, stressing that the president has never used the police of the DSS operatives to harass the protesters or those who insult him.
