EDITORIAL: Between Respect And Free Speech: Rethinking Senator Adamu’s Warning on Insults Against Governor Sule

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 By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku Lafia 

The recent declaration by former Governor of Nasarawa State and senior political figure, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, that insults against Governor Abdullahi A. Sule will no longer be accepted has sparked an important conversation about political conduct and democratic values in the state.

There is no dispute that public office holders deserve respect and that personal abuse, hate speech, and deliberate falsehoods weaken governance and poison civic discourse. 

In an era where political debate is increasingly reduced to name-calling and character assassination, Senator Adamu’s call for restraint resonates with many who believe that politics should be guided by decency and responsibility.

However, the line between curbing insults and suppressing dissent must be carefully drawn. Democracy thrives not on silence, but on constructive criticism, accountability, and the freedom of citizens to question those in power. 

While insults should be condemned, criticism, especially when rooted in facts and public interest, must never be mistaken for disrespect.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, like all elected leaders, presides over public institutions funded by taxpayers and entrusted with the welfare of the people. As such, his administration should remain open to scrutiny, debate, and even tough questioning. 

Political leaders and party elders have a duty not only to defend authority but also to protect the democratic space that allows governance to improve through feedback and opposition.

The challenge, therefore, lies in promoting civility without breeding fear, encouraging respect without muting voices, and defending leadership without elevating it beyond accountability.

 Political actors, supporters, and critics alike must learn to separate disagreement from abuse and opposition from insult.

As Nasarawa State moves forward, the emphasis should be on raising the standard of political engagement, where ideas defeat insults, performance answers criticism, and leadership earns respect through service. Only then can warnings give way to wisdom, and authority coexist with freedom.