President Bola Ahmed Tinubu used this year’s Democracy Day to remind Nigerians that freedom is hard work, not a finished product.
In a national broadcast released Friday, June 12, 2026, the President said Nigeria has now gone 27 unbroken years without military rule since May 29, 1999. That, he argued, is the longest stretch of civilian government in our history. But he was quick to admit the system is not perfect.
“Democracy fails when citizens doubt the process,” Tinubu warned as Ekiti and Osun prepare for elections. He called on INEC, security agencies, and political parties to deliver polls that people can trust. To the National Assembly, Judiciary, Press, and Civil Society, his message was blunt: criticise him, disagree with him, but don’t give up on Nigeria.
The President had a special message for young Nigerians. “Build here, code here, work here, and vote here,” he said. According to him, nations are not built by people who abandon ship when problems come. They’re built by those who stay to fix things.
Tinubu didn’t dodge the pain in the room. He acknowledged the recent abductions of children in Oyo and Borno, saying the mood for Democracy Day was dampened by it. His answer: a security emergency.
The government has approved recruitment of over 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military personnel. The 2026 budget commits N5.41 trillion to defence and security – the largest allocation yet. Tinubu said Nigeria has shifted from joint training with the US, France and Europe to “precision targeting.” He cited the recent degradation of an ISWAP command centre in Arege, Borno.
The numbers he shared were striking. Terror-related deaths are down 81% since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists were neutralised in the past year. At the same time, more than 124,000 fighters and their dependents have surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.
His warning to bandits and kidnappers was direct: “Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows will not remain open forever.”
June 12, Tinubu said, is more than an election anniversary. It’s a reminder of the struggle for political freedom led by MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, Gani Fawehinmi, Bola Ige, and dozens of others. The challenge now, he argued, is “economic freedom.”
He defended the reforms since 2023. Federation revenues have risen, giving states and LGAs more money for infrastructure, schools, and hospitals. Investor confidence is back, with growth in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, tech, mining, and the creative industry. Domestic refining capacity has also increased, cutting reliance on imported fuel.
Power was another focus. Tinubu admitted the sector was broken in 2023 – generation shortfalls, gas supply issues, weak transmission, and over 4 million metering gaps. His government signed the Electricity Act to let states generate and distribute power. A N4 trillion bond is being raised to clear legacy debts. Off-grid and mini-grid projects are reaching universities, markets, and hospitals.
“Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian,” he said.
Tinubu said weak local government is part of why insecurity persists. His administration is pushing financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 LGAs under the “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He also announced the renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, after General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. It will now be the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
Then came the awards. Dozens of Nigerians who suffered exile, jail, and persecution during the June 12 struggle will receive national honours. Names include Tunde Fagbenle, Oladele Alake, Olatunji Bello, Joe Okei-Odumakin, and many others. A list of “soldier-democrats” like Col Sambo Dasuki and Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the current Etsu Nupe, will also be honoured. Full list drops in the next few days.
Tinubu ended with a call for unity. “Let us reject division, cynicism, and despair. Embrace unity, hope, and confidence,” he said. His final line borrowed from Abraham Lincoln: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this land.”
27 years after June 12, 1993 showed Nigerians could vote as one, Tinubu says the next task is making democracy felt in every pocket, every home, and every community.
President Tinubu said the government will formally recognise Nigerians who suffered persecution, exile, incarceration, and solitary confinement so Nigeria could have democracy today. He also honoured soldier-democrats who stood for June 12.
Civilian Heroes:
Barrister Ayoka Lawani
Tunde Fagbenle
Oladele Alake
Olatunji Bello
Louis Odion
Segun Babatope
Sam Omatseye
Sir Ademola Osinubi
Bola Bolawole
Lade Bonuola
Femi Kusa
Debo Adeniran
Chief Ayo Opadokun
Chief Ralph Obiora
Ose Osayande
Barrister Osa Director
Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine
Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous)
Dr Osagie Obayuwana
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin
Barrister Titus Mann
Joe Igbokwe
Richard Akinnola
Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous)
George Mbah
Dr Niran Malaolu
Major-General Ishola Williams (rtd)
Femi Aborisade
Jenkins Alumona
Gbemiga Ogunleye
Muyiwa Adekeye
Babajide Kolade-Otitoju
Ike Okonta
Soldier-Democrats of June 12
Major General MA Garba
Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa
Col Umar Farouk Ahmed
Col Sambo Dasuki
Col Lawan Gwadabe
Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong
Col Musa Shehu
Major General Chris Eze
Major General Harris Dzarma
Col Isa Jibrin
Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin
Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom
Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus
Col J Okai
Col Emmanuel Ndubueze
Lt Col Yakubu Muazu
Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe, who is already the holder of the CFR title
Tinubu said the full honours list will be released in the next few days.
He closed with a charge to Nigerians: “27 years ago, many doubted democracy would survive here because of our diversity. Today, our diversity sustains our democracy. The road ahead is steep. But June 12 reminds us: Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break.”
“Let us renew our covenant: That the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this land.”
May God bless the heroes of our democracy. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God continue to bless us all.
Happy Democracy Day.
BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
