A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has cautioned critics and opposition members against making disparaging remarks about President Bola Tinubu.
Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said this while speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo.
He noted that it was unpatriotic for Nigerians to disparage the country and its leadership in the name of politics.
Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, observed that persistent humiliation of the country abroad through unguided utterances by high-profile personalities was causing a lot of damage to Nigeria’s reputation.
The APC chieftain said that although the constitution provides for freedom of speech and expression, this must not be seen as an opportunity to use inappropriate language against the country and its leadership.
Oyintiloye said that criticism of government policies and programmes must be done with all sense of civility and decorum when calling the attention of the leadership to any noticeable lapses.
According to him, the identity of the country abroad is being affected negatively due to unguided and unsubstantiated allegations by critics and members of the opposition.
“There is no doubt that the country is passing through challenges which the current administration is doing its best to stabilise.
“Making disparaging remarks about our dear country and the President abroad in the name of politics is affecting the image of the country negatively, and this is not good for our progress.
“No matter the challenges, our leaders must be accorded respect and dignity because they are our representatives around the world.
“The way and manner we portray our country and its leadership is a reflection of how our nationality is being treated around the world.
“We should imbibe the culture of Americans who will always say ‘God Bless America’ no matter the situation they find themselves.
“We must desist from pulling down our country and its leadership across the globe,” he stated.
