WafricNews – June 11, 2025

Abuja - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to address the nation at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 12, as part of the official events commemorating Nigeria’s 2025 Democracy Day.

The early morning broadcast will be followed by the President’s attendance at a special joint session of the National Assembly, scheduled to hold at noon at the NASS complex in Abuja. These details were confirmed in a statement released Wednesday by Abdulhakeem Adeoye on behalf of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Democracy Day.

However, in a notable departure from past traditions, the annual Democracy Day parade has been cancelled.

Later in the day, a public lecture will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the State House Conference Centre. The event will focus on the theme: “Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms.”

Now in its 26th year, Nigeria’s democratic journey began with the return to civilian rule in 1999, marking the longest unbroken stretch of democracy in the country’s history. Democracy Day was previously celebrated on May 29—coinciding with presidential and gubernatorial inaugurations—until it was shifted to June 12 in 2018 to honour the historic 1993 presidential election, which was widely regarded as free and fair but ultimately annulled. That election was believed to have been won by the late MKO Abiola.

This year’s celebration marks the third under President Tinubu’s administration, following his controversial electoral victory in 2023.

Despite more than two decades of democratic rule, concerns continue to mount about the quality of governance and civil liberties in the country. Prominent opposition figure and publisher, Dele Momodu, voiced his alarm during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday.

Momodu did not mince words, warning that Nigeria is dangerously close to sliding into civilian dictatorship.

“On the eve of June 12, we are practically back to an era of civilian rulers with authoritarian tendencies. Nigerians are suffering, and this government seems unmoved,” he said.

He criticized the country’s leadership across all levels—executive, legislative, and local government—for what he described as a blatant disregard for the will of the people.

“We’ve damaged this democracy,” Momodu lamented. “I just hope it’s not beyond repair.”


By WafricNews Desk.