By Yinka Giwa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday used his Democracy Day address to rally Nigerians behind the country’s democratic project, urging citizens to criticise his administration where necessary but never lose faith in the nation.
In a speech marking 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, Tinubu described democracy as an enduring national achievement won through sacrifice and struggle, while calling for unity in the face of economic and security challenges.
Addressing the National Assembly and the nation, the President said democratic institutions must remain strong and accountable, stressing that dissent and criticism are essential components of democratic governance.
“To our National Assembly, Judiciary, the Press, and Civil Society: you are the guardrails of our republic. Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria,” Tinubu declared.
The President also appealed to young Nigerians to commit their talents and energies to nation-building rather than abandoning the country.
“Nigeria is your home and your future. Build here, code here, work here, and vote here. Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship,” he said.
Tinubu used the occasion to pay tribute to the heroes of the June 12 struggle, including the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, his wife, Kudirat Abiola, and a long list of pro-democracy activists, journalists, labour leaders, and politicians who fought military rule.
He announced plans to confer national honours on dozens of democracy activists and members of the military who played significant roles in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
The President also approved the renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology in honour of the late military officer and democracy advocate.
On security, Tinubu acknowledged that the mood of this year’s Democracy Day celebration had been dampened by the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno States.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, revealing that more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits had been approved as part of an ongoing security emergency.
According to him, the 2026 budget earmarks N5.41 trillion for defence and security, the largest security allocation in the country’s history.
The President claimed that recent military operations had significantly weakened terrorist groups, citing the destruction of an ISWAP command centre in Borno State and a sharp decline in terror-related deaths.
He said more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised in the past year, while over 124,000 fighters and their dependants had surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
Issuing a stern warning to criminal elements, Tinubu declared that bandits, kidnappers, and terror sponsors must either surrender or face decisive military action.
“To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever,” he warned.
Despite the security gains claimed by his administration, the President urged Nigerians not to politicise the fight against crime.
“At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united,” he said.
On the economy, Tinubu defended his administration’s controversial reforms, arguing that they were necessary to rescue public finances, restore investor confidence, and secure long-term economic prosperity.
He said government revenues had increased significantly since 2023, enabling states and local governments to spend more on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security.
The President also pointed to increased investments in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy, technology, and transportation, while noting that non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent last year.
Highlighting reforms in the power sector, Tinubu said the Electricity Act had empowered states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity independently, while efforts were underway to bridge the country’s metering deficit and settle legacy debts in the sector.
He disclosed that a Presidential Power Sector Task Force had been authorised to raise N4 trillion through bonds to address long-standing financial challenges in the industry.
The President also cited ongoing infrastructure projects and agricultural programmes, including a plan to deploy 10,000 tractors over five years through the National Agricultural Development Fund.
However, he admitted that many Nigerians continue to face economic hardship and pledged that his administration would remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, and improving living standards.
“Democracy must be felt in the pocket,” Tinubu said, arguing that economic freedom must accompany political freedom.
The President also renewed his push for local government autonomy, describing effective grassroots governance as essential to national development and security.
He said insecurity in many parts of the country was partly linked to the collapse of governance structures at the local level.
Looking ahead, Tinubu called on Nigerians to reject division, cynicism and despair, insisting that the country’s diversity remains its greatest democratic strength.
“Twenty-seven years ago, many doubted democracy would survive here because of our diversity. Today, our diversity sustains our democracy,” he said.
“The road ahead is steep. But June 12 reminds us: Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break.”
The President urged electoral stakeholders to ensure peaceful and credible governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, warning that democracy is weakened whenever citizens lose confidence in the electoral process.
As the nation marked another Democracy Day anniversary, Tinubu called on Nigerians to renew their commitment to the ideals of freedom, justice, accountability and national unity, saying the task of the current generation is not only to preserve democracy but to secure prosperity for all citizens.