You Can Criticize And Disagree With Me But Never Stop Believing - President Tinubu

[00:00:00]Democracy fails when citizens doubt the process.

[00:00:06]To our National Assembly, judiciary, the press, and civil society, you are the guardrails of our republic.

[00:00:20]Criticize me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria.

[00:00:29]To our young people, Nigeria is your home and your future.

[00:00:35]Build here, code here, work here, and food here.

[00:00:44]Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, but not by those who abandoned ship.

[00:00:58]To our armed forces, police, and intelligence services, Nigerians salute your sacrifice.

[00:01:08]To our traditional rulers, faith leaders, and community heads, thank you for your support of peace and reconciliation.

[00:01:22]The government cannot do it alone.

[00:01:25]Today, we honor the resilience of Nigerians who refuse to surrender their faith in freedom and the courage of those who stood firm against intimidation.

[00:01:41]We pay tribute to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile, and even death so that future generations could enjoy democracy.

[00:01:56]I labor leaders, journalists, activists, students, women, professionals, political leaders, and soldiers.

[00:02:10]Both those who passed and those still with us for their patriotic contributions.

[00:02:19]Though this year's mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in your year and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return.

[00:02:32]Democracy without security is not solid enough.

[00:02:38]That is why this administration has chosen both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to restore peace, declared a security emergency, and approved the recruitment of 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits.

[00:03:02]Our 2026 budget commits 5.41 trillion, our largest ever, to defense and security.

[00:03:16]We have moved from training with our allies to precision targeting.

[00:03:24]In aggregate, we degraded ISWAP and command centers.

[00:03:31]Terror-related deaths are down by 81% since 2015.

[00:03:40]Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralized in the past year.

[00:03:47]But we also keep the door of surrender open.

[00:03:52]Over 124,000 fighters and dependence have laid down arms since 2023.

[00:04:02]Through Operation Safe Corridor, we turn our former enemies into citizens because every life saved is a victory for democracy.

[00:04:14]To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror, surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state.

[00:04:27]These windows of surrender will not remain open forever.

[00:04:34]No mercy will be shown to those who trade in blood of Nigerians.

[00:04:40]At a time like this, let us not assign blames or point fingers.

[00:04:47]Crime has no ethnicity.

[00:04:50]We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history.

[00:05:00]We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.

[00:05:08]June 12 occupies a sacred place in our national memory.

[00:05:15]It represents more than an election.

[00:05:18]It is a defining chapter in our history.

[00:05:24]We remember Chief M.K.O. Abiola who won a pan-Nigeria mandate transcending ethnicity and religion.

[00:05:34]We remember Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

[00:05:38]We also remember Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Alfred Rewane, and Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Bala Usman Musa, Commodore 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 freedom we enjoy today.

[00:06:12]As beneficiaries of their struggle, we have a duty to strengthen and deepen the democratic institutions for which they fought.

[00:06:24]The greatest tribute we can pay is to build a Nigeria where freedom is protected, justice is upheld, opportunity is expanded, and government is accountable.

[00:06:39]June 12, 1993 revealed the possibility of a true Nigerian nation.

[00:06:47]The heroes of June 12 secured political freedom.

[00:06:51]Our challenge is to secure economic freedom.

[00:06:56]Democracy must be felt in the quality of people's lives, in opportunities for youth, in prosperous farmers, successful entrepreneurs, and the dignity of our workers.

[00:07:14]The reforms we are undertaking were not chosen for ease, but for necessity.

[00:07:22]3 years ago, our public finances were under severe strain, investment was discouraged, and economic uncertainty threatened our future.

[00:07:35]We chose to act, embracing reforms to to Nigerians' economic freedom.

[00:07:43]Since 2023, our reforms have restored stability and credibility to economic management.

[00:07:53]Federation revenues have risen, providing state and local governments with more resources for infrastructure, education, health care, and security.

[00:08:09]Fiscal transparency has improved.

[00:08:13]Leakage have been reduced, and public funds are better directed to national priorities.

[00:08:23]Investors' confidence has returned with investment in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation, and the creative industries growing.

[00:08:41]Domestic refinery capacity has increased, strengthening energy security and reducing our reliance on imported petroleum products.

[00:08:54]By 2023, when we came on board, the electricity sector was characterized by chronic generation shortfalls and unreliable gas supply and transmission infrastructure so fragile that it could not evacuate available power.

[00:09:19]Distribution companies were burdened by massive losses and a metering deficit of over 4 million.

[00:09:29]Worse of all, the value chain was drowning in legacy debt.

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