ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday marked Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day with a strong defence of his administration’s economic and security policies, while announcing national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists, journalists, politicians, and military officers who played key roles in the June 12 struggle.
In a nationwide broadcast to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history, Tinubu praised Nigerians for sustaining democratic governance for 27 uninterrupted years and urged citizens to continue defending the nation’s democratic institutions.
“Though our democracy is not perfect, it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it,” the President said.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political parties to ensure peaceful and credible elections in Ekiti and Osun states in the coming days, warning that democracy suffers when citizens lose confidence in the electoral process.
The President also appealed to Nigerian youths to remain committed to nation-building.
“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.
Security Gains
Addressing the nation’s security challenges, Tinubu acknowledged that the country’s mood had been dampened by the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states but expressed optimism that the victims would be rescued.
He highlighted measures taken by his administration to combat insecurity, including the declaration of a security emergency, the approval of recruitment of over 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel, as well as a record allocation of N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 budget.
The President claimed that security operations had significantly weakened terrorist groups.
According to him, security forces recently degraded an ISWAP command centre in Arege, Borno State, while terror-related deaths have declined by 81 per cent since 2015.
He added that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised in the past year and that over 124,000 insurgents and their dependants had surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
Tinubu issued a stern warning to criminal groups.
“To bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians,” he declared.
Economic Reforms Defended
The President used the occasion to defend the economic reforms introduced since he assumed office in 2023, describing them as necessary steps to rescue Nigeria’s economy from severe fiscal strain.
He said the reforms had restored stability and credibility to economic management, increased federation revenues, improved fiscal transparency, reduced leakages, and boosted investor confidence.
Tinubu said investments had grown across agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation and the creative sectors.
He also cited improvements in domestic refining capacity and ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electricity sector through the implementation of the Electricity Act, which grants states greater authority in power generation, transmission and distribution.
According to him, the Presidential Power Sector Task Force has been mandated to raise N4 trillion to settle verified legacy debts in the power sector, while efforts are ongoing to reduce the country’s metering deficit and expand rural electrification.
The President further disclosed that the National Agricultural Development Fund is deploying 10,000 tractors over a five-year period, while more than 1,000 small and medium enterprises have been certified for export.
He added that non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent in the past year.
Despite these gains, Tinubu acknowledged the economic difficulties still facing many Nigerians.
“We remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards, rebuilding confidence in our economy and creating conditions for sustainable prosperity,” he said.
Tribute to Democracy Heroes
Reflecting on the significance of June 12, Tinubu paid tribute to the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, his wife Kudirat Abiola, and several prominent figures who fought for the restoration of democratic rule.
Among those remembered were Gani Fawehinmi, Bola Ige, Alfred Rewane, Abraham Adesanya, Anthony Enahoro, Balarabe Musa, Beko Ransome-Kuti and Frank Kokori.
The President also announced national honours for more than 40 individuals who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile and other hardships during the struggle against military rule.
The beneficiaries include journalists, activists, politicians and civil society leaders such as Tunde Fagbenle, Oladele Alake, Olatunji Bello, Louis Odion, Segun Babatope, Sam Omatseye, Bola Bolawole, Femi Kusa, Debo Adeniran, Ayo Opadokun, Joe Okei-Odumakin, Richard Akinnola, Niran Malaolu, Femi Aborisade, Gbemiga Ogunleye, Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju and Ike Okonta.
Tinubu also recognised several military officers who supported the June 12 struggle, describing them as “soldier-democrats.”
New University Named After Yar’Adua
As part of the Democracy Day announcements, the President approved the renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna in honour of the late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.
The institution will now be known as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
Call for Unity
Concluding his address, Tinubu urged Nigerians to reject division and remain committed to national unity and progress.
“Every generation has a defining responsibility. The generation of our founding fathers secured independence; the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” he said.
He added that while the road ahead remained challenging, Nigerians had consistently demonstrated resilience and determination.
“June 12 reminds us: Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break,” the President declared.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to building a Nigeria where justice is upheld, opportunities are expanded and democratic governance delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
