THURSDAY, 12TH JUNE 2025

Protocol:

Na with beta honour I dey stand for here today for dis National Assembly wey represent wetin Nigerians want.

1. As I waka enter dis fine building wey dey represent our democratic struggle, my belle sweet. E mix with joy and strong resolve.
2. I feel proud say we don waka far as one nation. Since 1999, democracy don stand gidigba after military rule don scatter everywhere.
3. But as I dey waka inside dis chamber, I know say we still get plenty road to go.
4. Na why I contest for office – to carry this country go front. I dey swear before God and everybody say I go do all wey I fit to protect and build our democracy as God don plan am.
5. Since 2018, we dey celebrate Democracy Day on June 12 to remember the people wey fight for democracy come back for Naija.
6. Make I thank former President Muhammadu Buhari wey correct past mistake by declare June 12 as Democracy Day and honour Chief MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe as the real winners of that 1993 election.
7. Every time we choose to talk instead of fight, argue instead of destroy, na democracy we dey promote. And small small, we dey sew the clothe of democracy for Nigeria body.
8. Even though Chief MKO Abiola na the main person for June 12, make we no forget other people wey be heroes of democracy too.
9. We go always remember Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and Pa Alfred Rewane wey military people kill. We remember civil rights activists, journalists, politicians wey dem beat, jail, or chase comot.
10. We remember names like Chief Anthony Enahoro, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, Ganiyu Dawodu, Bagauda Kaltho, and Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu. I call these names to show say this struggle na everybody struggle.
11. This fight for democracy no be one side matter. All of us from different parts of Nigeria join hand.
12. As I dey talk for this chamber, una na lawmakers, I na the one wey go implement wetin una pass. We no go always agree, but we must work together. Na democracy dey demand that one. I gree to work with una, and I dey beg make una do the same.
13. National Assembly don always protect democracy. For 2006, una block third-term palava. For 2010, una use doctrine of necessity give Goodluck Jonathan acting president role.
14. Even when military dey power, some people like Senator Ameh Ebute try defend democracy. Dem jail us, but we no gree.
15. On behalf of Nigeria, I thank una for all una don do – from making laws to representing una people.
16. Now, make I clear one rumour wey dey fly up and down.
17. People dey talk say APC wan turn Naija to one-party state. I dey tell una, dat one na big lie. I never try change party registration with INEC. And as per people wey dey jump ship from their party, no blame them – na who wan sink without life jacket?
18. My political history no support one-party system. In 2003, when dem try wipe opposition, na only me stand as progressive governor.
19. Dem even boast say dem go rule for 50 years. Where dem dey now?
20. I stand alone, my people fall, my enemies full ground, but still dem no fit change our destiny. God no allow am that time, and God no go allow am now.
21. The one-party plan dem plan that year na im push us form APC. That same waka na im carry me reach here today. I no go make that kind mistake again.
22. APC no dey plan one-party system. But if people wan join us, make dem come. I welcome the new members from Delta and Akwa Ibom led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Pastor Umo Eno.
23. If your party dey fear say people dey leave, look inside your house. No dey imagine ghost wey no dey. Arrange your house by yourself, I no go help you.
24. As we get many political parties, we must appreciate that variety, just as Nigeria people dey diverse. Competition no be bad thing if e dey help the country.
25. One big place wey we suppose work together na economy and social development.
26. As I enter office, me and my team begin repair the economy. We bring reforms to fix the wahala wey dey hold growth.
27. Results don dey show. In 2024, GDP grow by 3.4%, and 4th quarter alone reach 4.6% – highest for more than ten years. Inflation dey drop, food price dey stable. Naira don balance, foreign reserve don increase 5 times.
28. Over 100,000 Nigerians, including 35,000 civil servants don get soft loan through CREDICORP to buy better things. From July, 400,000 young Nigerians, including corpers, go benefit from same scheme.
29. We dey give more chances to youths to get skills and jobs – through NELFUND, education, training, internship.
30. We dey lay fibre optic cables across Nigeria. This go connect people, improve internet, and open doors for digital work, learning and business.
31. Our “Nigeria First” policy go boost market growth. We dey target 7% growth with strong manufacturing. We must learn to grow and produce our own food – food sovereignty na the goal.
32. These reforms don put our economy for better position to attract investment.
33. I dey beg National Assembly make una bring laws wey go encourage factory jobs and food production.
34. We also bring Tax Reform Package wey go help economy. I thank una for how una reason the bills. I go sign am into law soon.
35. Una teamwork on top the bills show say democracy dey work.
36. We wey dey lead, must do more to make democracy real – not just paper talk.
37. Make we open political space more. Choose talk over oppression, rights over power. Make una tolerate criticism.
38. No fear bad talk. Sometimes na your worst critic dey give you correct advice. Repressing people no go bring peace, e go bring wahala.
39. Na true say insults no sweet, but democracy dey require say we tolerate some level of insult. If dem call me name, na democracy I go still use defend dem right to talk.
40. Naija no perfect, but e strong. Our democracy never reach heaven, but e still dey alive. Our dream still dey possible.
41. Nigeria dey turn new corner. We dey restructure for better future.
42. We dey invest for roads, ports, rail, and light. Tax policy don improve, make businesses fit thrive well.
43. Governance must work for the people. We don exempt small businesses from tax. We create Tax Ombudsman to protect taxpayers. Diaspora Bond and Non-Resident BVN dey bring Nigerians abroad into development matter.
44. As I promise, I don appoint National Credit Guarantee Company board with ₦100bn capital to help SMEs and fight corruption.
45. Security dey very important. We don increase security ops to collect land back from terrorists. Intelligence and agency coordination don improve.
46. Make we hail our Armed Forces – dem dey fight with courage and deserve our support and prayer.
47. My people, all we don achieve na teamwork. But journey never finish. We go work harder to turn big talk to better life for Nigerians.
48. As we dey mark 26 years of democracy, make we honour those wey fight for am.
49. I dey give posthumous national honour of CFR to Kudirat Abiola, heroine of June 12.
50. I also give posthumous honours to people like Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Prof. Nwosu, Rear Admiral Kanu, and many others wey fight for democracy.
51. Honour dey also go to people wey still dey alive like Prof. Wole Soyinka, Bayo Onanuga, Bishop Kukah, Femi Falana, and others.
52. I dey honour Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu (CON) – journalist wey go clock 90 tomorrow.
53. Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine, plus others, go collect posthumous honour and I dey give them full pardon under prerogative of mercy. More names go come soon.
54. Finally, I go decorate the heads of National Assembly with their national honours:

• Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON – SENATE PRESIDENT
• Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON – SPEAKER
• Senator Jibrin Barau, CFR – DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT
• Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, CFR – DEPUTY SPEAKER

56. Make we rededicate ourselves to wetin June 12 stand for: freedom, good governance, justice, participation, and a society wey no dey oppress anybody.
57. Happy Democracy Day. May God bless Nigeria and protect our soldiers.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria