*‘Criticise, Disagree With Me, But Never Stop Believing In Nigeria’
*Confers National Honours On 50 Nigerians
AMID rising insecurity, President Bola Tinubu has stated that security operations across Nigeria have recorded gains, insisting that Nigeria has made the shift from military training partnerships to precision targeting.
To prove his point, he said: “In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP’s command centre. Terror-related deaths are down by 81 per cent since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year,” he said.
Tinubu, in his nationwide broadcast on Friday, June 12, to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day, assured that his government would continue to encourage surrender, while maintaining pressure on armed groups, adding: “To bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State.
“These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.”
While acknowledging concerns over the abduction of children in Oyo, Borno and others states, Tinubu expressed optimism that they would return safely, noting that democracy without security is a mirage, adding that his administration had declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of over 50,000 Police officers and thousands of military personnel.
He recalled that this year’s budget allocates N5.41trillion to defence and security, the largest security allocation in the country’s history.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s unbroken years of democratic governance, despite challenges, since the return to civil rule in 1999, the President said: “Today, we celebrate not only democracy but also the enduring Nigerian spirit.
“For 27 unbroken years, since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers, not through violence.
“Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it.
“Democracy fails when citizens doubt the process. 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 expressed openness to criticisms of his administration’s policies and projects.
He paid tribute to pro-democracy figures and Nigerians who fought for democratic rule, saying: “Today, we honour the resilience of Nigerians who refused to surrender their faith in freedom, and the courage of those who stood firm against intimidation.
“We pay tribute to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile and even death so that future generations could enjoy democracy.
“At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history.”
Describing June 12 as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history, Tinubu bestowed national honours on figures that played key roles in the struggle for democratic governance, saying: “June 12, 1993, revealed the possibility of a true Nigerian nation.
“The heroes of June 12 secured political freedom. Our challenge is to secure economic freedom.”
Defending his administration’s economic reforms, has expressed openness to criticisms of his administration’s policies and projects, saying they were necessary to stabilise public finances and restore investor confidence, even as he admitted that most Nigerians continued to face economic hardship.
“We remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards, rebuilding confidence in our economy, and creating conditions for sustainable prosperity,” he said.
Tinubu linked local government autonomy to improved governance and national development, stating: “Recognising that democracy is undermined when people do not feel its impact, my administration has sought financial autonomy for our 774 local councils.
“Every generation has a defining responsibility. The generation of our founding fathers secured independence, the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity.
“Let us move forward together, rejecting division, cynicism, and despair; embracing unity, hope and confidence.”
The President paid tribute to the late M.K.O. Abiola, and his wife, the late Kudirat; the late Gani Fawehinmi; Bola Ige; Alfred Rewane; Abraham Adesanya; Anthony Enahoro; Balarabe Musa; Dan Suleiman; Beko Ransome-Kuti; Frank Kokori; Arthur Nwankwo; Chima Ubani; Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; and the many other heroes and heroines of democracy whose sacrifices helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today.
Tinubu conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians who were key figures in the pro-democracy struggle, including Ayoka Lawani; Tunde Fagbenle; Oladele Alake; Olatunji Bello; Louis Odion; Segun Babatope; Sam Omatseye; Ademola Osinubi; Bola Bolawole; Lade Bonuola; Femi Kusa; Debo Adeniran; Ayo Opadokun; Ralph Obiora; Ose Osayande; Osa Director; Sylvester Odion-Akhaine; Osagie Obayuwana; and Joe Okei-Odumakin.
Others include Titus Mann; Joe Igbokwe; Richard Akinnola; Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous); George Mbah; Niran Malaolu; Maj-Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd); Femi Aborisade; Jenkins Alumona; Gbemiga Ogunleye; Muyiwa Adekeye; Babajide Kolade-Otitoju; and Ike Okonta.
The President also recognised the soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle, such as Maj-Gen. MA Garba; Brig-Gen. Lawal Jaafaru Isa; Col. Umar Farouk Ahmed; Col. Sambo Dasuki; Col. Lawan Gwadabe; Brig-Gen. Jonathan Ndam Temlong;
Col. Musa Shehu; Maj-Gen. Chris Eze; Maj-Gen. Harris Dzarma; Col. Isa Jibrin; Maj-Gen. Joseph Oshanupin; Col. Olusegun Oloruntoba (Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom); Lt-Col. Happy Kefas Bulus; Col. J. Okai; Col. Emmanuel Ndubueze; Lt-Col. Yakubu Muazu; and Brig-Gen. Yahaya Abubakar (Etsu Nupe and holder of the CFR).
