…May pardon politically exposed ex-convicts
…Sets for Senators, Reps joint session
By Caleb Ishaya, Abuja
Amid knocks and cheers, Nigerians celebrate this year’s Democracy Day with high expectations on Presidents Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast as the nation marks 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.
Tinubu’s nationwide Democracy Day anniversary address, earlier scheduled for today, June 12 has been cancelled.
Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, who made this known yesterday said the broadcast was cancelled due to a scheduled attendance by President Tinubu, at the joint National Assembly session.
The President, Imohiosen added is expected at the National Assembly complex, today where he will address Nigerians directly from during his meeting with the federal lawmakers.
According to the Director, “Due to President Bola Tinubu’s 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 address of the joint session of the National Assembly is part of the activities marking the Democracy Day celebrations, as the Federal Government has also declared the same day a public holiday to commemorate the 2025 Democracy Day celebration.
Earlier on Sunday, House of Representatives Spokesman, Honourable Akin Rotimi, in a statement announced the joint session.
“The Special joint sitting is scheduled to be held at the House of Representatives Chamber, National Assembly Complex, commencing at 11:00 AM, with preliminary proceedings ahead of the arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at noon.
“The theme for this year’s celebration is: ’26 years of democracy: Renewing our commitment to national development”. President Tinubu is expected to attend the occasion as Special Guest of Honour and will deliver a presidential address to the joint sitting”, he stated.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced Democracy Day as a public holiday in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani, on Sunday, June 8.
He said, “June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth, justice reign, and peace is sustained and our future assured.
“The last 26 years tell the story of our resilience, strength, and courage, and a hope renewed than ever.”
The Minister reiterated the commitment of the Renewed Hope government of President Bola Tinubu to the universal value of democracy that is based on freely-expressed will of the people in determining Nigeria’s political, economic, social, and cultural systems.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that until 2018, Nigeria commemorated Democracy Day every May 29. But in 2019, former President Muhammadu Buhari changed the Democracy Day celebration to June 12 every year.
June 12 as Democracy Day is significant in the history of Nigeria, as the 1993 general elections has been described as the most free and fair in the country’s since independence.
An estimated 14 million Nigerians put aside ethnic, religious, class, among other divide with a view to ending years of military dictatorships.
However, former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the election results believed to have been won by candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Alhaji Moshood Abiola.
Meanwhile, barring any last minute changes AljazirahNigeria learnt that Tinubu’s address may include granting of presidential pardon to one time Delta State Governor, James Ibori, former member House of Representatives, Honourable Farouk Lawan ,Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State, among other ex-convicts who are political gladiatorsbtheconclaveng.com reports.
Besides, another highlight of President Tinubu’s speech at the joint sitting, which had already been confirmed, is the conferment of national honours on a select group of federal lawmakers.
The commemorative event special joint sitting is scheduled to be held in the expansive House of Representatives Chamber.
Proceedings will commence at 11: a.m., while President Tinubu is expected to arrive at 12:noon to deliver a presidential address as the Special Guest of Honour.
Ibori, is one of the leaders of Niger Delta zone, in addition to being a national figure in Nigeria was sentenced to 13 years in prison for money laundering in the United Kingdom.
It would be recalled that he was released from prison in December 2016 after a court order. He served 4 years of the 13 years to which he was sentenced.
Afterward, Ibori was deported to Nigeria, where he continued to retain political influence.
In 2021, a British court ordered him to pay approximately £100 million, which was to be returned to the Nigerian government.
Ibori and Tinubu were members of the State Governors’ Class of 1999 to 2007.
He was found guilty and sentenced to jail for 7 years on June 22, 2021
He completed his jail term on October 22, 2024, and he is now active in the current political dispensation.
In addition, Farouk was on the team of members from Kano State, who graced the decampment of some NNPP members of the House of Representatives from Kano State and fillers informed the newspaper that Farouk will be granted pardon today.
President Tinubu will also address the state of the nation , from the economy to progress so far in the security sector and plans of his administration in lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty, stamp out corruption as well maintain a United, resilient and strong economic nation through his Renewed Hope Agenda reform policies that are already yielding results as Mr President said on May 29 last month.
