President Bola Tinubu has called on the media and civil society organizations to maintain their faith in Nigeria, even as they offer criticism of his administration. The president made this appeal during a televised broadcast commemorating this year's Democracy Day on Friday.
Addressing key democratic institutions, Tinubu described the National Assembly, the judiciary, the press, and civil society groups as the "guardrails" of the republic. "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," the president stated.
Tinubu noted that Nigeria has maintained 27 consecutive years of civilian rule since 1999, marking it as the longest period of democratic governance in the country's history. "Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it," he said.
Elections and Security
The president also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and political parties to ensure peaceful and credible governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. He warned that democracy is weakened when citizens lose confidence in the electoral process.
Addressing security challenges, Tinubu acknowledged that the day's mood was "dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno." He announced that his administration has declared a security emergency, approved the recruitment of over 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel, and allocated N5.41 trillion to defense and security in the 2026 budget—the largest such allocation ever.
Economic Reforms
Speaking on the economy, the president defended recent reforms as a "necessity," citing improvements in federation revenues, increased domestic refining capacity, and growth in non-oil exports. He stated that the next phase would focus on making democracy felt in citizens' quality of life through job creation, lower inflation, and expanded opportunities for youth.
Tinubu also honored the heroes of the 'June 12' struggle, including M.K.O. Abiola and Kudirat Abiola, and announced national awards for democracy activists and "soldier-democrats" who suffered persecution. "Let us renew our covenant: That the labours of our heroes' past shall never be in vain, and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this land," he concluded.
