*Tinubu to deliver Democracy Day address directly from National Assembly chambers
*Also cancelled is Democracy Day parade earlier scheduled to hold at Presidential Villa
*There will however be Public Lecture on Democracy Day at State House
*Lecture theme is: Consolidating on Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms
By Patrick Wemambu
President Bola Tinubu has cancelled the previously scheduled nationwide broadcast in commemoration of Nigeria’s 26th Democracy Day anniversary.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, attributed the change to President Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday.
He added that the President will instead deliver his Democracy Day address directly from the National Assembly chambers.
“Due to President Bola Tinubu scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled. President Tinubu will deliver his address from the National Assembly, ” Imohiosen said.
The details of activities marking the Democracy Day ceremony released on Wednesday by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Democracy Day celebration made available to The Nigerian Pilot indicate that the earlier scheduled military parade to mark the event has been cancelled.
President Tinubu would additionally participate in a special joint session of the National Assembly at 12 noon on Thursday.
A statement to this effect was released by Abdulhakeem Adeoye, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the traditional Democracy Day parade that was usually held at the Presidential Villa in the previous years would no longer take place. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen George Akume had earlier announced that the military parade would be held on Thursday.
Akume, who was represented by The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this during the inauguration of the inter-ministerial committee for the 2025 Democracy Day celebration about two weeks ago.
He emphasised the importance of the commemoration of Democracy Day as an opportunity to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of our national heroes who fought for democratic dispensation in the country.
The statement issued on Wednesday, however, said: “The Inter-Ministerial Committee wishes to announce the following developments on the 26th Democracy Day celebration:
“His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu is to attend the National Assembly Joint Session at 12 noon.
“Public Lecture on Democracy Day Celebration will be held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja at 4pm.
“The lecture comes with the Theme: Consolidating on the Gains of Nigeria’s Democracy: Necessity of Enduring Reforms”, the statement added.
