No Democracy Day parade, says FG
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Thursday address the nation at 7:00 a.m. as part of activities to mark the 2025 Democracy Day celebration.
This was disclosed yesterday in a statement issued by Abdulhakeem Adeoye on behalf of the Director, Information and Public Relations, Inter-Ministerial Committee on Democracy Day.
According to the statement, President Tinubu will later attend a joint session of the National Assembly at 12 noon at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Adeoye, however, noted that there will be no ceremonial parade to mark the event.
“Later in the day, there will be a public lecture on Democracy Day celebration at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Time: 4:00 p.m.,” the statement added.
The theme of the lecture is: “Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms.”
This year’s Democracy Day marks 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria following the return to civilian rule in 1999 after years of military dictatorship.
The commemoration was previously held on May 29, the day set aside for the swearing-in of presidents and governors. However, in 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 as the new Democracy Day to honour the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely adjudged as Nigeria’s most credible poll.
The 2025 celebration will be President Tinubu’s third Democracy Day in office, having been elected in 2023 following a fiercely contested general election.
Despite the milestone of 26 years of civil rule, concerns remain over the state of the nation’s democracy, with critics warning of increasing authoritarian tendencies.
One of the prominent voices is that of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and media entrepreneur, Dele Momodu, who raised alarm over what he described as “civilian dictatorship”.
Speaking yesterday on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Momodu said Nigeria’s democracy was under serious threat.
“I’m very happy that today coincides with the lead-up to June 12 (Democracy Day), so that if we still have any iota of conscience left, we’ll realise we have damaged this democracy,” he said.
“The summary of it all is that on the eve of June 12, Nigeria is virtually back to civilian dictators who don’t care how you feel or what you think. Nigerians are hungry.
“We’ve damaged this democracy, and I hope we’ve not damaged it beyond repair because the audacity, the effrontery of this set of politicians—whether in the executive, legislature, or local government—is totally unbelievable.”
