The Territorial Archbishop of Calabar and Founding Patriarch of the Cross River State Christian Leaders Forum, Archbishop Josef Bassey, has called on governors and elected government officials across Nigeria to emulate Governor Bassey Otu in demonstrating restraint when dealing with critics.

The call follows Governor Otu’s intervention that led to the withdrawal of a case and release of an alleged online critic who had been detained for days.

Reports said the individual had made online publications directed at Governor Otu which went beyond criticism of policies to attacks on his character, reputation and private life.

An aide to the Governor subsequently instituted legal proceedings, leading to the arrest and detention of the individual.

Archbishop Bassey said Governor Otu, who did not initiate the action, directed that the case be withdrawn and the individual be released when the matter was brought to his attention.

Reacting, the Archbishop said the Governor’s action had “raised the bar for the exercise of political power in Nigeria.”

“There are moments when the true character of a leader is revealed, not by the power he exercises, but by the power he refuses to use,” Archbishop Bassey stated.

“In a country where political power has too often been deployed to silence opposing voices and settle personal scores, Governor Otu had every opportunity to look the other way. Instead, he intervened for the freedom of the very person accused of attacking him. That is a remarkable exercise of restraint.”

The cleric said the action was consistent with Christian virtues.

“Christianity is tested most severely when a man has the power and perhaps even the legal grounds to retaliate, but chooses restraint. Christ taught us to bless those who curse us. When such values find expression in public office, they deserve to be acknowledged.”

Archbishop Bassey urged governors and all elected officials nationwide to learn from the episode, saying tolerance of criticism should be regarded as strength, not weakness.

“Public office cannot demand applause as a condition for service. Citizens must be free to question their leaders. Journalists must be free to investigate government. A democracy that protects only agreeable speech is not much of a democracy,” he said.

He, however, cautioned that freedom of expression must not become a licence for cyberbullying, defamation or character assassination.

“A telephone and an internet connection do not automatically make anyone a journalist,” the Archbishop warned.
“Ask the difficult questions. Expose wrongdoing. But know where criticism ends and defamation begins. Do not destroy a man’s family or reputation merely because you disagree with his politics.”

He said the Governor’s mercy should not be interpreted as validating the alleged attacks.
“Mercy does not make wrongdoing right. The restraint of the powerful must be matched by responsibility on the part of those who wield the power of the media and digital space.”

The Archbishop said the incident presents Nigeria with a larger conversation on the relationship between authority and civic freedom.

“What Governor Otu has demonstrated is that power does not have to crush an adversary to prove that it possesses authority,” he said.
“Governor Otu has raised the bar. I commend him, and I hope that governors and other men and women entrusted with power across Nigeria will take notice and emulate him.”