President Bola Tinubu
By Tony Folarin
President Bola Tinubu vowed on Sunday to foster the rule of law, abide by the principles of separation of powers, and accomodate contrary views within the ambit of the laws of Nigeria.
The president made this pledge to the largest gathering of Nigerian lawyers even as his administration faces increasing criticism for its growing intolerance towards a free press and dissenting voices.
The pledge came in Lagos, the same city where, earlier on Sunday, the State Security Service (SSS) arrested and detained Nigerian journalist Adejuwon Soyinka for six hours.
Mr Soyinka, the West African Regional Editor of Conversation Africa and pioneer editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, was arrested at about 5:40 a.m., shortly after he arrived at Muhammed Muritala International Airport from the United Kingdom.
The DSS is yet to disclose the full details behind the arrest and detention of Mr Soyinka, stating only that he was held at the request of an unnamed government agency.
Mr Tinubu did not acknowledge Mr Soyinka’s arbitrary arrest or the growing trend of such harassment of journalists since he became president.
Still, Mr Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the rule of law pledge on Sunday when he declared open the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.
He said his administration had made steady progress in rebuilding the nation through legal and judicial reforms since taking office.
