KEY POINTS

• Tinubu marked 27 years of unbroken democracy and urged peaceful Ekiti and Osun polls.
• He cited an 81 percent fall in terror deaths since 2015 and over 13,000 terrorists neutralized in a year.
• The President pledged economic freedom and announced national honors for June 12 democracy heroes.

President Bola Tinubu used his Democracy Day address on Friday to vow victory over terrorism and to pledge economic prosperity, as Nigeria marked 27 unbroken years of civilian rule since May 29, 1999. He described the nation’s democracy as imperfect but worth defending, and he urged INEC, security agencies and parties to keep the coming Ekiti and Osun elections peaceful and credible.

Security gains and an ultimatum to terrorists

Although Tinubu acknowledged that the abduction of children in Oyo and Borno had dampened the mood, he insisted the government would secure their release. Moreover, he noted that his administration declared a security emergency, approved more than 50,000 new police officers and committed N5.41 trillion, the largest ever, to defense in the 2026 budget.

According to the President, the country has moved from joint training with allies to precision targeting, and forces degraded ISWAP’s command center in Arege, Borno State. Furthermore, he said terror-related deaths have fallen 81 percent since 2015, troops neutralized over 13,000 terrorists in the past year, and more than 124,000 fighters and dependents surrendered since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor. “Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State,” he warned, stressing that the windows of amnesty would not stay open forever.

Economic reforms and a tribute to heroes

On the economy, Tinubu argued that the reforms reflected necessity rather than ease, and he said they have restored stability since 2023. Consequently, he pointed to rising federation revenues, improved fiscal transparency and returning investor confidence across agriculture, energy, mining and the creative industries. He also cited the Electricity Act, which empowers states to generate and distribute power, and a plan to raise a N4 trillion bond to settle legacy sector debts.

However, the President admitted that many Nigerians still face hardship, and he vowed to cut inflation, expand food production and create jobs. “Democracy must be felt in the pocket,” he said, while pledging financial autonomy for the 774 local councils.

Finally, Tinubu honored June 12 as a defining chapter in the nation’s story, paying tribute to Chief M.K.O. Abiola and other pro-democracy figures. In addition, he announced national awards for dozens of activists, journalists and soldier-democrats, and approved renaming the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna after General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. Ultimately, he charged his generation to secure prosperity, declaring, “Nigerians do not break.”