Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, along with the Peoples Democratic Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, criticised President Bola Tinubu over his remarks expressing satisfaction at the prospect of a divided opposition.

The June 12, 2025 celebration marks 26 uninterrupted years of democratic governance in Nigeria.

During his address to a joint session of the National Assembly and Nigerians in commemoration of Democracy Day, President Tinubu stated that it was a pleasure to watch the opposition in disarray and had no intention of helping them put their house in order.

In response, Atiku in an exclusive with The PUNCH through his media aide Paul Ibe, condemned the President’s remarks as reckless, accusing Tinubu of running the country like a civilian dictator.

Also reacting, the Publicity Secretaries of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, and the NNPP, Oladipo Johnson, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, called on President Tinubu to focus on governance and stop interfering in the internal affairs of opposition parties.

The ruling All Progressives Congress in its June 12 message signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said under President Tinubu, the democratic space remained vibrant, with citizens and political stakeholders freely exercising their rights to expression and association in the lead-up to the next election cycle.

Tinubu was accompanied to the House of Representatives Chamber, venue of the joint session by top government functionaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Hope Uzodinma of Lagos and Imo States respectively, among others.

Speaking against the backdrop of fears expressed in some quarters that the wave of defections into the APC may birth a one-party state in the country, President Tinubu dismissed the notion, stating that the beauty of democracy lies in the plurality of policies and programmes of different political parties.

He also called on parties currently losing members to look inward and address their internal issues.

“Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist. For me, I would say try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you do so. It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray.

“We must welcome and accept the diversity and number of political parties just as we welcome and embrace the diversity of our population. Our efforts must never be to eliminate political competition but to make that competition salutary to the national well-being by working across the political aisle whenever possible,” the President said.

He added, “To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be a result of your panic, it rings in error. At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present and at no future juncture shall I view the notion of a one-party state as good for Nigeria.

“I have never attempted to alter any political party registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission. Equally, we cannot blame anybody seeking to bail out of a sinking ship even without a life jacket.

“Look at my political history. I would be the last person to advocate such a scheme. In 2003, when the then-governing party tried to sweep the nation clean of political opposition through plot and manipulation, I was the last of the progressive governors standing in my region.

“In all their numbers and false grandeur, they boasted of ruling, not governing, Nigeria for the next half century or more. Where are they now?”

He noted that even at the height of political intolerance in the country, no system succeeded in foisting a one-party state on Nigeria.

“My allies had been induced into defeat. My adversaries held all the cards that mortal man could carry. Even with all of that, they could not control our national destiny because fate is written from above. A greater power did not want Nigeria to become a one-party state back then. Nigeria will not become such a state now.

“The failed effort to create a one-party state placed progressive political forces on a trajectory to form the APC. It put me on the trajectory which has brought me before you today. I dare not do such a favour to any political adversary by repeating the same mistake of political overreach.

“A one-party state is not in the offing and it should never be. That said, we would be guilty of political malpractice if we closed the door on those from other parties who now seek to join the APC and I sincerely welcome our party’s newest members from Delta and Akwa Ibom States led by Governors Sheriff Oborevwori and Pastor Umo Eno and other members of this National Assembly,” he added.

He saluted the courage of Chief Moshood Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election, his wife, Kudirat and Pa Alfred Rewane, all of whom lost their lives to the struggle to revalidate the annulled election.

“Whilst Chief MKO Abiola is June 12’s central figure, we must not forget the long list of those who equally deserve to be called heroes of Nigerian democracy. We must celebrate the courage of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola and Pa Alfred Rewane, both of whom were murdered by agents of military repression.

“We also remember the many civil rights activists, journalists, and politicians imprisoned, exiled, tossed aside, tortured and beaten by the military regime,” he added.

The President also lauded his administration for the achievements recorded in the past two years, saying, “We are already seeing results. Gross Domestic Product grew by 3.4 per cent in 2024, with Q4 hitting 4.6 per cent, the highest quarter of growth in over a decade.

“Inflation is easing gradually, steadying the price of food staples like rice and beans. Our net foreign reserves have increased fivefold, and the Naira exchange rate has stabilised. Our balance of payments position is positive; our sovereign credit rating is improving as we continue to promote oil and non-oil exports. States now do not need to go about borrowing to pay salaries.

“In less than one year, over 100,000 Nigerians, including 35,000 civil servants, have benefited from affordable consumer credit through the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, enabling them to purchase vehicles, light up and improve their homes and purchase life essentials. This July, we will launch a bold new initiative to empower 400,000 Nigerians, including youth corps members, with consumer credit.

“We are committed to giving more opportunities to young people through job creation and skills development. Through such programs as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, we are investing in education, vocational training, apprenticeships, and internships to ensure our youth are job-ready and future-ready,” he added.

According to the President, the Federal Government has embarked on an ambitious project “To lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.

“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected. By extending this critical infrastructure, we are empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.

“Our ‘Nigeria First’ policy will further enhance progress as we consolidate market-driven growth. The improved economic performance is encouraging and validates the soundness of our policy measures. Our medium-term growth target remains an economy growing at a 7 per cent clip with a stronger manufacturing base. We must learn to produce and grow most of our food and we are on the path to achieving food sovereignty,” he further said.

The President urged the lawmakers to be receptive to criticisms, saying, “Do not be afraid to hear an unkind word spoken against you. Some of the best advice a politician gets sometimes comes from his most ferocious opponents. We dare not seek silence because the imposed silence of repressed voices breeds chaos and ill will, not the harmonics of democracy in the long term.

“While malicious slander and libel should not go unattended, no one should bear the brunt of injustice for merely writing a bad report about me or calling me names. Democracy requires a fair degree of tolerance for harsh words and stinging insults. Call me names, call me whatever you will, and I will still call upon democracy to defend your right to do so.”

He commended the security agencies for their crusade against all forms of criminality, even as he pledged his government’s commitment to continuous support to the defence and security sector.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu also conferred the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, the highest honour in the land, on the late Chief of General Staff, Gen Shehu Yar’ Adua and the second-highest national award, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.

He also conferred national honours on key National Assembly leaders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who were awarded the GCON title. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu also received the CFR honour.

Speaking at the event, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, gave the 10th National Assembly a glowing pass mark, praising lawmakers for surpassing legislative expectations within their first two years in office.

In a historic move, the lawmakers also proposed to institutionalise an annual presidential address to a joint session of the National Assembly on June 12 annually.

In his address, Senate President Akpabio outlined the Senate’s extensive legislative output, declaring that the 10th National Assembly had demonstrated “renewed vigour” in confronting Nigeria’s most complex challenges.

He said, “The Senate has introduced 844 bills in two years—an unprecedented figure in our legislative history,” he said. “Of these, 96 have been passed, and 52 have been assented to by the President. These bills span critical sectors including education, local government autonomy, regional development commissions, agriculture, and tax reforms.”

Akpabio also revealed that 26 executive bills were among those passed, pointing to a collaborative and effective relationship with the executive arm.

“In addition, we received 80 petitions from citizens and civil societies. Eighteen of these have been fully adopted, showing the growing trust in the National Assembly as a vehicle for redress and justice,” he added.

In a passionate plea to preserve Nigeria’s democratic legacy, the Senate President urged President Tinubu to consider establishing a June 12 Museum to serve as a repository of the nation’s pro-democracy struggles.

“Let us preserve the memory of June 12. A museum will serve as a living archive—housing the stories, artefacts, and sacrifices of our journey toward democracy,” Akpabio said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Reps Speaker Abbas noted that the House had reviewed 2,263 bills within two years, with over 65 per cent reaching second reading and 186 fully passed.

“A total of 51 bills have received presidential assent, a record for any administration within its first two years,” Abbas said, commending Tinubu’s commitment to legislative collaboration.

He highlighted the National Assembly’s role in pivotal national decisions, recalling its rejection of the third-term bid in 2006 and the invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity in 2010 to preserve constitutional order.

The Speaker cited economic and security reforms as key outcomes of the Assembly’s work, including the N6.11trn (11.1 per cent) budgetary allocation to the security sector and legislation backing the removal of petrol subsidies and foreign exchange reforms.

“With legislative support, Mr President, you have established ten new universities, polytechnics, and specialised institutions—an unprecedented feat in any President’s first term,” Abbas said.

He also revealed that the House Public Accounts Committee had recovered over N61.5bn in debts owed to the Federal Government by oil and gas firms.

Looking ahead, Abbas announced that the House would immediately begin a comprehensive review of the 2007 Mining Act, aiming to empower subnational governments and strengthen regulatory oversight.

“The reforms we envision will allow states to participate legally and profitably in mining while addressing the security vulnerabilities currently plaguing the sector,” he explained.

He also outlined legislative priorities for the second half of the Assembly’s term, including constitutional amendments to reserve seats for women, grant formal roles to traditional rulers, and establish a 35% affirmative action policy.

Bringing his remarks to a close, Abbas appealed to President Tinubu to institutionalise the presidential address to the National Assembly as an annual event.

“By honouring our invitation today, you have made history,” the Speaker said. “Let us make this a tradition. Let it become law. Let it become democracy in action.”

The joint session ended with a standing ovation for President Tinubu, as lawmakers and dignitaries applauded what many hailed as a landmark moment for Nigeria’s democracy.

Meanwhile, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, described the administration of Tinubu as the lowest point in Nigeria’s democratic history.

In his Democracy Day message on Thursday, Atiku stated that Nigerians were not experiencing true governance, but rather a form of domination.

He lamented that the democratic progress, which began in 1999, was now gradually being undone.

Atiku stated, “The political class made painful compromises, but it was the Nigerian people who bore the heaviest burden. They yearned for a new democratic order, and many paid dearly for it. I, too, made my fair share of sacrifices, most notably setting aside my own presidential ambition in deference to the late Chief MKO Abiola, a gesture made in faith and fidelity to a higher national cause.

“But others gave far more. The late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Tafida Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Alfred Rewane; these brave souls gave their lives in pursuit of a freer Nigeria. Their memories are etched into our national conscience and must never be forgotten.

“The gains of June 12 were hard-won. But sadly, the democratic promise that blossomed in 1999 is being steadily dismantled before our very eyes.”

The former Vice President accused the ruling APC and the Federal Government of governing with a clear aim to dominate, suppress, and silence dissent.

He stated, “Today, Nigeria teeters on the edge of a dangerous precipice—a creeping one-party dictatorship is replacing the democratic order we bled for. Those who laid down their lives did not do so for Nigerians to groan under the yoke of authoritarianism and economic suffocation.

“The ruling party and its federal government now govern with the unmistakable intent to dominate, subdue, and silence. Their tactics are not subtle. Opposition voices are being systematically erased. Contracts for multi-billion-naira infrastructure are funnelled to cronies and family associates of the president. National institutions, once symbols of unity, are being brazenly renamed in honour of a sitting president, as though the country were a private estate.

“What we are witnessing is not governance, it is conquest. This government represents the lowest ebb in our democratic journey. Institutions have been weaponised. Policies are crafted not to empower the people but to entrench fear, obedience, and control. The common Nigerian has been abandoned at the altar of elite comfort. And make no mistake: this is the antithesis of everything June 12 stands for.”

Atiku stated that as long as oppression persists, June 12 will endure, not merely as a memory, but as a continuing movement.

Reacting to President Tinubu’s comments about the opposition, he stated that the President undermined the dignity of his office with such statements.

Atiku called on the President to allow the opposition the freedom to function without interference.

He stated, “And when you are speaking as the Commander-in-Chief, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you diminish that office when you say that kind of thing.

“It’s like a father who is saying that he will be happy to see some of his children go wayward. That’s exactly what it means. It’s not everything that you politicise about. That is a reckless statement.

“What he said, not only at the National Assembly, but also yesterday (Wednesday) at the commissioning of a project, that ‘as e dey pain them, e dey sweet us’ is reckless. Yes is paining Nigerians, and President Tinubu is happy about it. You begin to ask yourself, does this President care about Nigerians? No, he doesn’t.

“The President should roll his sleeves; let them do the work of governance. Everything is not about politics. Nigerians are suffering. The President does not give a damn. And all he does is go to France and have a good time while Nigerians are being killed in their numbers.

“That is the nature of the kind of President that we have—an irresponsible APC government who does not give a damn about the people under his watch, the people that he has a mandate to make life better for. And he doesn’t care. He knows about them. He doesn’t care about their well-being. He doesn’t care that they cannot put food on the table, that people are suffering, that the cost of food inflation is high.”

Atiku maintained that President Tinubu was deploying state machinery to intimidate and destabilise the opposition.

The former Vice President stated, “He is using state apparatus to put the opposition in disarray. There is a state capture, the capture of the judiciary, the capture of anti-corruption agencies and others. They have been used as an instrument of coercion. So what is he talking about?

“It is so unfortunate that the man is saying this. I mean, this is a so-called democrat. A so-called democrat who has become a modern-day dictator.

“There must be opposition. Opposition is an integral aspect of any democracy. There must be an alternative viewpoint. Otherwise, it’s no longer a democracy. So, it’s unfortunate. It’s irresponsible. We don’t expect that from the Commander-in-Chief, to say that on a day that we are observing Democracy Day. Now, rather unfortunately, we are having a civilian dictatorship—because that is exactly what is going on.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ologunagba, on his part, expressed regret that President Tinubu would speak about opposition parties in such a manner.

Ologunagba stated, “It is unfortunate that the President would even talk about an opposition openly on a day like this and in that manner. He has the job of organising the country. Nobody is asking him to organise a political party.

“All the political parties are saying: stop dabbling in their affairs, stop instigating a crisis in the opposition party. Concentrate on governance. That is what you were elected to do. Allow democracy. Allow for alternative views in political parties. Stop compromising democratic institutions. Allow the Nigerian people to decide who governs them.

“He has a duty, which he has already failed in: to provide security and welfare for the Nigerian people. He has failed. If he has failed in that, nobody expects him to come and organise a political party. In any event, the PDP is a well-organised party that has been around since 1998 and continues to be strong. All major members of his political party today, at least 90%, were once members of the PDP. That shows the PDP is a very organised party.

“Mr. President should reorder his priorities and stop thinking and hallucinating about opposition parties. He should be concerned about the welfare and security of Nigerians. That is his principal responsibility.”

Ologunagba asserted that the 2027 election would serve as a referendum on President Tinubu’s performance, urging the President to focus on issues of governance rather than commenting on opposition parties.

He stated, “If he believes in democracy, he should speak on the issue of electoral reforms. He should support reforms that allow opposition parties to operate and organise themselves, without infiltration or crisis instigation. He should ensure the rule of law is upheld and allow INEC to conduct free, fair, peaceful, and credible elections in this country.

“The election in Edo State is an insult to Nigerian sensibilities and an assault on democracy. For him to encourage such anti-democratic behaviour is a clear and present danger to our democracy. We are not interested in Mr. President speaking on opposition matters. Speak on the issue for which you have a principal duty: the security and welfare of the Nigerian people.”

PDP, in its June 12 message, called on Nigerians to stand against what it described as an alleged plot by President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

The party stated, “Peoples Democratic Party calls on Nigerians to use the occasion of the June 12 Democracy Day to re-awaken and strengthen their resistance to the anti-democratic designs of the All Progressives Congress, particularly the plot to foist a despotic One-Party regime in Nigeria.

“The PDP urges Nigerians, Institutions of Democracy, Organised Civil Society, Development Partners and indeed all lovers of democracy to unite in speaking out against the stifling of democratic tenets of justice, the Rule of Law, free, fair, peaceful credible electoral process and the right of citizens particularly to freely participate in politics and governance in Nigeria.

“The PDP is alarmed by the anti-democratic actions of the APC government which continues to use compromised state apparatus of powers and control to brazenly violate the Constitution, emasculate opposition, defy and abridge the liberty of the citizens to freely elect their leaders, corrupt and manipulate Institutions of Democracy, asphyxiate the media and weaponize poverty, all in the attempt to impose a defeatist mentality on the people and turn our nation into a fiefdom and personal estate of few individuals in power.

“More distressing is that the APC-led Presidency has remained unaccountable while colluding with the corrupt, rubber stamp APC leadership in the National Assembly and certain compromised Judicial officers at very high places to undermine the sovereignty of the people ostensibly to clear the path for a totalitarian system in our country.”

The opposition party warned that suspending elected leaders in Rivers State and appointing a sole administrator, among other violations, poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

It also urged the National Assembly, judiciary, and the Independent National Electoral Commission to uphold their constitutional independence and act strictly in accordance with the rule of law and the will of the people, in order to protect democratic principles.

“The PDP therefore demands that the APC administration respects the memory of Chief Abiola, the law and sovereignty of the Nigerian people by adhering to the Principle of Separation of Powers, end the intrusion in the activities of the National Assembly and other Democracy Institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Judiciary, allow for a free press, commit to credible elections, be truthful, transparent and review all its poverty weaponizing policies.

“Against this backdrop, our Party demands that the National Assembly, the Judiciary and INEC assert their Constitutional Independence and operate only on the basis of the Rule of Law and the collective interest of the people in the promotion of the tenets of democracy.”

NNPP Publicity Secretary, Johnson, stated that the President’s comments about the opposition exposed his real agenda toward opposition leaders and parties.

He stated, “What he said in his earlier statements shows the position he really wants, to put opposition in disarray. Explaining it now is an afterthought. What we have seen from the various parties—the crises in some of them, in one way or another, are linked to people within their party instigating or encouraging the turmoil.

“I agree with him that it is not his job, or that of his party, to ensure that the opposition is well-organised. But the truth of it all the President and APC leaders are behind the opposition parties’ crisis.

“I think he should learn that democracy feeds on constructive opposition. A multi-party liberal democracy thrives on constructive opposition. It is of no use stifling or ensuring that no one is there to present an alternative vision of how the country should be run. It is always good to have that. The opposition is very important.”

Meanwhile, the APC stated that Nigeria was led by a courageous reformer and one of democracy’s finest.

The ruling party said that under President Tinubu, the democratic space remains vibrant, with citizens and political stakeholders freely exercising their rights to expression and association in the lead-up to the next election cycle.

The party stated, “Fortuitously, today, our country is led by one of democracy’s finest, fearless and resilient champions, President Bola Tinubu, a visionary leader and bold reformer. Under his watch, our country has finally risen to its feet to tackle deep-seated structural challenges and barriers to national growth and development.

“President Tinubu has initiated unprecedented policy reforms and interventions designed to restore vitality to the economy and pull our country back from the brink onto safer, solid ground. He has demonstrated courage and political will to perennial problems where other Presidents before him faltered. He has chosen to bear witness to his oath of office by upholding and defending Nigeria’s strategic best interest rather than pander to momentary calculations of political self-interest. Putting Nigeria first has now become embedded at the core of state policy under this President of Progress.

“Two years of President Tinubu’s administration’s reforms, encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda, and centred on economic restructuring and revitalisation, infrastructure development, agriculture and food security, citizens’ welfare and national security have begun to yield results and benefits for our people. The policies, also designed to promote social and economic inclusion of Nigerians, have secured improved minimum wage, access to student loans, NHIS health care subsidies, improved food prices, competitive pricing and stable supply of petroleum products nationwide, thanks to global standard innovations in the petroleum sector, and breaking news report of a N5.17trn trade surplus in Q1 of 2025.

“The administration has achieved the elusive financial autonomy for local governments, and massively increased federal allocations to states, now positioned to pay off suffocating loans and improve service and infrastructure delivery. Our tetiarry institutions are now better funded, and crippling incessant strikes have abated.

“Despite growing insecurity in the Sahel region with its spillover impact on Nigeria’s security, this administration has continued to tackle insecurity with ironclad resolve and with many recorded successes nationwide and has revitalised the country’s security architecture through investment and use of advanced technology and intelligence-gathering techniques.”

The APC reiterated its dedication to democratic values and expressed its support for President Tinubu and his administration’s initiatives to create a better future for all Nigerians.

It added, “Our democratic space remains robust with citizens and political actors exercising their democratic freedom of expression and association ahead of the next electoral cycle. As the President’s strides win more interest in his groundbreaking reforms, among opposition politicians who are choosing to support the Renewed Hope Agenda by joining our great Party, some desperate opposition figures continue to baselessly chorus tales of the APC’s attempt to foist a one-party state, among other imagined absurdities.

“No democratic norm imposes any obligation on the ruling Party to intervene to solve the internal crisis or failure of leadership of opposition parties. The utter dysfunction and chaos in major opposition parties speak to their incapacity to govern themselves, much less govern Nigeria.

“Democratic governance remains the best solution to Nigeria’s challenges,  and this administration is putting democracy to work for the economy and for more peace, well-being and security of all our people.”