Complete speech of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu 2025 Democracy Day Celebration
🇳🇬 “Democracy is Alive!” President Tinubu’s Stirring Address to the Nation on June 12, 2025
In a moment charged with patriotic pride, reflection, and renewed national resolve, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, addressed a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, 2025, in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day. With the echoes of history still resounding in the halls of the legislature, the President stood tall, not just as Commander-in-Chief, but as a custodian of Nigeria’s democratic legacy.
A Tribute to Courage and Sacrifice
President Tinubu’s address was more than ceremonial it was a powerful narrative of struggle, survival, and national healing. He paid tribute to the heroes of Nigeria’s democratic struggle, centering the memory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, while honouring dozens more who sacrificed their comfort, safety, and lives for the rebirth of freedom.
The President announced posthumous national honours for icons such as Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Pa Alfred Rewane, and Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, alongside living legends like Prof. Wole Soyinka, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Femi Falana, and others an unprecedented gesture of recognition and national healing.
Democracy: Not a Perfect System, But Our System
I an emphatic rejection of rumours about turning Nigeria into a one-party state, Tinubu declared, “A one-party state is not in the offing. Nor should it ever be.” Drawing from his own political survival against the odds in 2003, he reminded Nigerians that democracy thrives not in uniformity, but in vibrant political competition and civil liberties.
He celebrated the legislature as a democratic stronghold, reminding lawmakers of their pivotal roles in 2006 (stopping the third-term bid) and 2010 (Doctrine of Necessity), while also praising their recent bipartisan cooperation on economic and tax reform bills.
Economic Transformation and Youth Empowerment
President Tinubu used the occasion to showcase tangible gains of his reform agenda:
* GDP growth hit 4.6% in Q4 2024, the highest in over a decade.
* Foreign reserves have quintupled and the Naira has stabilised.
* Over 100,000 Nigerians now benefit from CREDICORP consumer credit schemes.
* July 2025 will see a fresh initiative to empower 400,000 Nigerian youths, including NYSC members, through access to credit.
* The ongoing national fibre-optic project aims to connect communities and fuel the digital economy.
Rebuilding the Nation’s Foundation
The President reaffirmed his commitment to food sovereignty, industrial growth, and energy security. Tax reforms now support small businesses with exemptions, while the establishment of the National Credit Guarantee Company signals a leap forward in SME financing and economic inclusion.
On national security, he noted improvements in inter-agency coordination, community safety, and defence intelligence while expressing heartfelt gratitude to the armed forces for their courage and sacrifice.
A Democracy Worth Defending
In a particularly stirring moment, Tinubu stated:
> “Our democracy is not invincible, but it is alive… and this means our dream of a prosperous, happy nation is still within reach and worth fighting for.”
He urged legislators to continue expanding political space, defend civil liberties, and resist the lure of authoritarianism even when insulted or criticised. “Call me names,” he said, “and I will still call upon democracy to defend your right to do so.”
Final Acts of Recognition and Reconciliation
The President concluded by conferring national honours on the presiding officers of the National Assembly and granting full pardons to the Ogoni Nine and other national heroes, cementing a message of unity, justice, and restorative leadership.
June 12: A National Compass
President Tinubu’s Democracy Day address was as much a national retrospective as it was a blueprint for the future. It reminded Nigerians that democracy is not a destination, but a duty one requiring courage, humility, accountability, and constant reform.
As the nation reflects on 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule, one message rang loud and clear from the President’s speech:
“Nigeria is at an inflexion point and democracy remains our most powerful tool for transformation.”
Happy Democracy Day, Nigeria. 🇳🇬
Let the march toward justice, equity, and national greatness continue.
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