Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi MHR representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 2 gave a remarkable address at the ongoing European Parliament meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on Defending Truth in Public Debate: Building Spaces for Dialogue.
The address emphasized the vital importance of truth and dialogue in upholding democracy. He opened his remarks by commending the courage of platforms such as the Political Network for Values, which defend human dignity and freedoms at a time when these ideals face unprecedented pressure. Hon. Okey-Joe emphasized that truth in public debate was not optional but the very glue of the social contract between leaders and citizens. However, he explained that truth was complex, shaped by culture, context, and time, and without dialogue it often led to misunderstanding and division. By using a simple illustration of linguistic differences in the meaning of “pants” between Nigeria and the United States, he demonstrated how dialogue bridged gaps in perception and prevented conflict.
He warned that democracy was threatened by an age of noise in which social media amplified opinions but diminished understanding, outrage replaced reason, and misinformation eroded trust. Drawing on Nigeria’s experience, he highlighted that voter distrust, driven by toxic rhetoric and broken promises, had led to declining participation in elections. Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi MHR, pointed to Nigeria’s constitutional and legal frameworks—the Electoral Act, Cybercrimes Act, Freedom of Information Act, and media regulations—as instruments meant to protect truth, but cautioned that misuse of regulation undermined democracy. Hon. Okey-Joe illustrated this with the case of Rivers State, where political tensions and weaponised information had led to legislative paralysis and public distrust, showing the dangers of dialogue collapsing into confrontation.
Public debate, he insisted, must serve democratic purposes by enabling diverse perspectives, fostering engagement, and building consensus through respectful persuasion rather than intimidation. To defend truth, leaders were urged to verify facts, use credible sources, correct misinformation respectfully, and promote media literacy. To build dialogue, they were advised to create safe civic spaces, listen actively, focus on issues rather than personalities, and seek common ground. He offered parliamentarians five guiding principles: to lead by example with fact-based discourse, strengthen oversight to ensure regulations protect citizens, institutionalize dialogue platforms, invest in civic education, and protect journalists and whistleblowers.
He condemned the persistent killings of innocent citizens across Nigeria, describing them as barbaric and unacceptable, and urged government at all levels to rise to its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property. He emphasized that peace could not be imposed by force alone but had to be built through trust, inclusion, justice, and responsive governance. In closing, he affirmed that disagreement was natural in politics, but dialogue was the only credible path to consensus. Truth in public debate was described as the heartbeat of democracy, and without it societies risked louder politicians but fewer statesmen, more regulations but less legitimacy, more platforms but fewer conversations. Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi MHR, called on the world, under the United Nations, to champion dialogue as a primary instrument for peace.
Finally, Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi MHR invited global partners to invest in Nigeria, highlighting its vibrant youth, resilient economy, and improving regulatory frameworks, and positioning the country as Africa’s next major economic destination.
HOJ MEDIA
