citizens must tolerate ‘unpalatable opinion’ of others to sustain democracy – Shehu Sani

Civil Rights Activist and former Senator that represented Kaduna Central, Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has advised Nigerians to tolerate opinion of others, even if it is unpalatable.

He stated this in the aftermath of vitriolic attack on some popular individuals over their comments, which suggested that they were not comfortable with their comments.

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In a post onnhis X handle on Monday, Sani, who is the Senatorial candidate on the rulingbAll Progressives Congress, APC, platform in next year’s general election, said citizens have to tolerate diverse opinions in other to sustain democracy.

He wrote: “Sheikh Jingir aired his opinion, it made you angry, you attacked him day and night.

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“Christopher Musa aired his opinion, iit made you angry, you are blasting him day and night.

“Whenever Sheikh Gumi airs his opinion, you literally chase him with daggers.

“Don’t be like the Government you are criticizing for not tolerating the freedom of speech.

“You should tolerate their freedom of speech. It looks like it’s not easy to tolerate opinions one doesn’t like. It looks like is it’s not easy for one to become a democrat.

“The Man who will insult you for your opinion will arrest you for your opinion if he holds the levers of power.

“True tests of belief in freedom of speech is tolerating unpalatable opinions.

“If you can only tolerate views that you like or that harmonises with your opinion, then you don’t believe in freedom of speech.

“When the Government arrest a person for his opinion, it usually says “he overstepped his bounds”; Should we all agree that there should be marked boundaries or limits to that FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?.

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