In a significant departure from tradition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not deliver a national broadcast on June 12 Democracy Day. Instead, he will address a joint session of the National Assembly, marking the 2024 commemoration of Nigeria’s return to democratic governance.
The development was confirmed on Wednesday by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
“Due to H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR’s scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled,” the official statement read.
Tinubu’s Democracy Day Speech to Focus on National Unity and Future Plans
While the decision breaks from previous presidential tradition, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, provided insight into the content of Tinubu’s planned speech.
Writing on his Facebook page, Onanuga revealed that Tinubu will speak extensively on Nigeria’s democratic evolution since 1993, honor the heroes of democracy, and outline his developmental roadmap for the country.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will address a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, Democracy Day. In his speech, he will dwell on the nation’s democratic journey since 1993, celebrate the heroes and heroines of the democratic struggle, and speak on his plans to build a prosperous country that will benefit all Nigerians,” Onanuga stated.
Why June 12 Matters: Democracy Day and the 1993 Legacy
June 12 is widely recognized in Nigeria as Democracy Day, commemorating the annulled 1993 presidential election, which is regarded as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history. The day honors the legacy of MKO Abiola and the sacrifices made by pro-democracy activists.
By choosing to address lawmakers directly, Tinubu is expected to reaffirm his commitment to democratic governance, inclusive development, and institutional reforms aimed at national unity and economic transformation.
