No Reprisal for Journalists Who Criticise Me, Tinubu Assures

President Bola Tinubu has assured journalists that his administration will not retaliate against those who criticise or attack him, reaffirming his commitment to press freedom.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the centenary celebration of the Daily Times and the unveiling of the Nigerian Grand Book and Times Heroes Awards.

The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, described the media as an important pillar of national development and a key instrument for information, accountability and preservation of Nigeria’s collective memory.

He said his administration remained committed to press freedom in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

“Under this government, you can insult, attack the President and go to bed without midnight march,” Tinubu said.

The President also described the Nigerian Grand Book as an important platform for Nigerians to document the country’s history from their own perspective.

He said preserving history was essential to national development, noting that countries that forget their past risk repeating their mistakes, while those that understand their history can learn from past experiences and build a better future.

According to him, history should not merely preserve the past but should serve as a tool for shaping the future.

Tinubu also urged Nigerians to look beyond the Daily Times’ 100-year history and consider the kind of nation they want to build over the next century.

Speaking at the event, keynote speaker and former President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said the longevity of the Daily Times demonstrated the importance of continuity in nation-building.

In his address, titled “Daily Times @ 100, Lessons in Nation Building,” Adesina said every generation inherits the achievements and challenges of those before it and has a responsibility to build on them.

He stressed that nation-building could not be achieved by one individual or administration, but through the collective efforts of successive generations.

Adesina said effective leadership should be measured not only by achievements during a leader’s tenure but also by the strength of the foundations left for future generations.

He called for a Nigeria where citizens could bring their diverse strengths together for a common purpose, describing unity in diversity as essential to the country’s progress.

Award Recipients

The Publisher of the Daily Times, Fidelis Anosike, honoured former editors of the newspaper, including Vanguard Publisher Prince Sam Amuka-Pemu and former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

Among the award recipients, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, received the Community Impact Award, while Adesina was honoured with the Global Impact Award.

The founding Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of ThisDay, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, received the Media Icon of the Decade Award.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, was named Minister of the Decade, while APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, received the Politician of the Year Award.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago was honoured as Governor of the Year, while Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu received the Outstanding Governor, South-West Award.

Other governors recognised included Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State.

Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, representing Nasarawa West, received the Outstanding Lawmaker of the Year Award, while Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, was honoured as House of Representatives Lawmaker of the Year.