June 12: Nigeria’s Democracy Witnessing Sustained Attacks Under Tinubu

June 12, 2026

Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the nation’s democracy has suffered severe attacks under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the situation has prevented nigerians from enjoying the democracy they fought for.

Abubakar, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African democratic Congress, ADC made the remark in a statement, personally signed by him to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day in the country.

The ADC presidential candidate called on Nigerians to stand up and defend the nation’s civilian rule, saying the politic of intimidation and bad governance by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC should be rejected.

The former vice president’s admonition comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed in his Democracy Day speech that the country is witnessing steady progress under his watch, he urged Nigerians to defend Democracy, which he said may not be totally “perfect” as a means of governance.

Abubakar, however, accused the administration of deliberate use of state power to suppress the opposition in the country, through manufactured leadership crises, orchestrated defections, political intimidation, instead of concentrating on good governance for Nigerians.

According to him, “Financial crimes agencies, the police, the National Assembly, and even segments of the judiciary have been deployed to harass, intimidate, and coerce opposition voices into submission or defection.

“The Electoral Act 2026 has further entrenched provisions that disproportionately favour the ruling party, while freedom of speech, freedom of association, and media independence have come under relentless assault.” Atiku said.

The ADC presidential hopeful said democracy was not a gift for Nigerians, but what they fought for “through sacrifice, courage, resistance, and blood. He noted that many years after the return to civil rule, Nigerians are now confronted with the emergence of an authoritarian government under the Tinubu administration which he said seeks to secure validation through intimidation, the same method used under the military rule.

“Politicians, pro-democracy activists, patriotic military officers, labour leaders, civil society organisations, students, journalists, and ordinary Nigerians united to confront military tyranny. Many paid the ultimate price. Chief MKO Abiola and Kudirat Abiola laid down their lives. So did Pa Alfred Rewane, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, scores of journalists, students, activists, and countless unnamed heroes whose sacrifices paved the way for the democratic order we now risk taking for granted,” he said.

“Today, twenty-seven years after the military returned to the barracks, Nigeria finds itself confronted by a different but equally dangerous threat: the emergence of an increasingly authoritarian civilian order. Unlike military dictatorship, which ruled by decrees and brute force, this new authoritarianism seeks legitimacy through institutions it has steadily captured and weakened. Its methods may be more sophisticated, but its objective is the same: the concentration of power, the silencing of dissent, and the subversion of the will of the people.”

He however urged Nigerians to defend democracy which he said has not been fully “won”, citing alleged plan by the incumbent to manipulate the 2027 election to undermine the current democratic process.

“This is why June 12 must remain more than a public holiday. It must remain a living reminder that democracy is never permanently won; it must be continually defended.

“Once again, Nigerians are called upon to stand up in defence of the Republic. The hard-won gains of democratic rule are being steadily eroded, and there is a growing and legitimate concern that the President Tinubu administration is determined either to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 elections or undermine the democratic process itself if it cannot secure victory through the ballot,”Abubakar said.

Egbu Diocese Showcases Love For Migrants, Seeks Greater Church Support

The Source

June 12, 2026

By George Best Okoroh

The Anglican Diocese of Egbu, Owerri North, Imo State, has reiterated its commitment to the welfare, evangelization and integration of migrants living within its jurisdiction.

The Bishop of Egbu Diocese, His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor, stated this while speaking on the activities and vision of the Diocese’s Migrants Mission.

Bishop Okorafor explained that the mission caters for Nigerians from different parts of the country as well as foreigners from neighbouring countries such as Chad and Niger who reside within communities under the Diocese.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the mandate of the Church of Nigeria Missionary Society to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, promote reconciliation and foster peaceful coexistence between migrants and host communities.

The Bishop disclosed that the mission has been operating for over three years under the leadership of the Rev. Fortunatus Nnadi, who was posted by the Church of Nigeria, specifically, to coordinate migrant ministry activities in the area.

He noted that migrant communities are spread across Nekede, Egbu, Ihiagwa and Naze, among other locations within the Diocese, adding that the mission’s outreach extends beyond Egbu Diocese to parts of Owerri, Okigwe and Ohaji-Egbema dioceses.

While expressing satisfaction with the progress recorded so far, the Prelate lamented the financial burden of sustaining the programme, revealing that the Diocese of Egbu has remained the sole sponsor of the mission despite expectations of support from the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province and other Dioceses benefiting from the outreach.

The Rt. Rev. Okorafor highlighted some of the Diocese’s interventions, including the provision of accommodation, musical instruments, chairs, Bibles and other welfare materials for migrants.

He also disclosed that Bibles in Hausa dialect were donated through a medical practitioner from the Diocese resident in Abuja after addressing the Church of Nigeria Standing held at the Niger Delta Diocese in 2025.

On concerns about the legal status of migrants, the Bishop said the Diocese would work through its legal department to ensure proper documentation and identification of migrant beneficiaries, particularly those from outside Nigeria.

He acknowledged that some members of host communities still harbour negative perceptions about migrants, often associating them with insecurity.

However, he emphasized that many of the migrants are Christians seeking fellowship and peaceful coexistence.

The Bishop called on Churches, communities and individuals to support the mission through donations and partnerships, stressing that migrants deserve love, care and a sense of belonging as fellow human beings and Christians.

He expressed optimism that continued evangelism, discipleship and empowerment programmes would help transform lives and strengthen harmonious relationships between migrants and their host communities.

June 12: Tinubu Urges Nigerians To Defend Democracy

Tosin Olatokunbo

June 12, 2026

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to defend the country’s constitutional democracy, saying the current democratic rule may not be perfect but ‘it’s our” and will must continue to “defend and strengthen it.”

The Nigerian leader made the admonition in his nationwide broadcast to commemorate this year’s democracy Day celebrations.

The federal government had on Thursday declared a national holiday in remembrance of Nigeria’s heroes of democracy, including the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Abiola.

The late President Muhammadu Buhari officially declared June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day on June 6, 2018.

According to President Tinubu is his today’s speech, Nigerians must do all on their part to ensure that the nation’s democracy survives, saying the current civilian rule may not be totally perfect, but has enabled Nigerians to elect their leaders, through the ‘ballot box” in a “peaceful” transitions of” power”.

Tinubu stressed that this is the first time the nation has witnessed the longest civilian rule in her history for unbroken 27 years without any disruptions, adding that disagreements have also been resolved through the courts and not by violent means.

“We have experienced the longest stretch of civilian rule in our history. Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it,” Tinubu stated.

Since the country returned to Constitutional democracy in 1999, after a long period of military rule, successive administrations in the country have called on Nigerians to protect the civilian rule, describing it as the best.

Kenneth Okonkwo: Between Recklessness and Urgent Need for Rescue

The Source

June 12, 2026

By Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu

“In Kenneth Okonkwo, what Nigerians see is a man who cannot be trusted with a secret, a man who turns confidential conversations into bargaining chips, and a man who confuses revenge with righteousness”

There are moments in public life when a man, perhaps convinced of his own invincibility, strips himself bare before the eyes of the nation, not in courage, but in disgrace. Kenneth Okonkwo, once celebrated as the face of Nollywood’s iconic “Living in Bondage,” has gifted Nigeria one such moment. What he has done in recent days is not merely politically irresponsible but morally reprehensible, legally reckless, and psychologically alarming. It demands to be named for exactly what it is.

Okonkwo appeared on Channels Television and alleged that Peter Obi and other Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) leaders in the Southeast received bribes during the recent primary elections. He also claimed that an aspirant sent him an “SOS message” exposing alleged fraud in the outcome of the primaries. He went further to declare that anyone voting for Peter Obi is “voting for criminality.” These are not mere political jibes. They are accusations of bribery and criminal conspiracy against a man whose entire public identity is built on a reputation for financial probity. In a country where political reputations are the currency of electoral survival, Okonkwo fired a missile and sat back to watch it detonate in his own hands.

The controversy intensified when the very aspirant Okonkwo cited as his source, Obunike Ohaegbu, appeared on the same television station and publicly denied ever accusing Obi of collecting money from him. “I am telling you that Peter Obi never told me to pay N10 million. I never told Kenneth Okonkwo that Peter Obi, in any way, told me to pay N10 million,” Ohaegbu stated flatly. That single denial should have been the end of it. But for Okonkwo, it was not. Rather than retract with the dignity befitting a man of his self-acclaimed stature, he doubled down, shared WhatsApp screenshots, and insisted that everyone else was wrong except him.

Okonkwo also published a bank transaction receipt of N10 million. He presented it as evidence of extortion. The receipt, however, showed payment made to the NDC’s official account, not to Obi or any individual directly linked to him. A receipt of payment to a political party’s official account, in an era of structured party primaries, is not evidence of personal bribery. It is evidence that a man paid his party fees. That Okonkwo presented this as a smoking gun speaks to either a fundamental misunderstanding of what he was alleging or, more disturbingly, a deliberate attempt to mislead the Nigerian public with documents that, on their face, contradict the very story he is telling. And, it would be very disappointing if, as a lawyer and a member of the Nigerian Bar, Okonkwo does not know what bribery is.

Obi’s legal team has described the allegations as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact,” and stressed that they amount to a direct assault on Obi’s integrity and public standing. Obi has demanded a N5 billion retraction and public apology. These are proportionate responses to an attack that could materially damage the electoral prospects of a man seeking the presidency of Africa’s most populous nation. Okonkwo’s response to this legal notice, however, is where his conduct crosses from the merely irresponsible into the genuinely disturbing.

Okonkwo warned that it would be “very unwise” for Obi to sue him, being Obi’s former spokesperson, for defamation. He went further to threaten that such a lawsuit could compel him to divulge confidential information obtained during his time as Obi’s spokesperson. Let that sink in slowly. A man is being sued for making false allegations (defamatory statement). Rather than produce evidence to defend the allegations, he reaches for a different weapon entirely. The weapon is privileged information entrusted to him as a confidante and campaign spokesman. Okonkwo declared: “The lawyers must take responsibility for any information I may have to divulge, which I acquired as a spokesperson, but which by my conscience I have not shared with anyone.”

This is not the language of a man who has been wrongly accused and is fighting back with truth. This is the language of a hostage-taker and a blackmailer. This is extortion dressed in legal drag. Okonkwo is essentially saying: drop the lawsuit, or I will weaponise trust. He is threatening to turn confidential information shared between political allies in the heat of a campaign into instruments of retaliation. He is not threatening to tell the truth. He is threatening to deploy private information as leverage. The distinction matters enormously, and it should terrify anyone who has ever trusted Kenneth Okonkwo with anything, especially Atiku Abubakar, whom he currently claims to speak for, and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who bring him into their meetings.

What is particularly disturbing is that, rather than reassuring the public that he has evidence to support his claims, Okonkwo threatened to reveal confidential information he became privy to while serving as Peter Obi’s spokesman and close political associate. A man of principle, faced with a defamation suit, produces evidence or evidences to back his claim. He does not threaten to ransack the archives of a former friendship. The fact that Okonkwo’s instinct, in the face of legal accountability, is to threaten the disclosure of campaign secrets tells us everything we need to know about the contents of his character. This is why those who deal with him, even outside politics, ought to be careful.

As one commentator observed, Okonkwo may believe he is being clever, and may think that threatening to divulge secrets gives him leverage, or may imagine that Obi will back down. But what Nigerians see is a man who cannot be trusted with a secret, a man who turns confidential conversations into bargaining chips, and a man who confuses revenge with righteousness. The world is seeing a man who could take Atiku or other members of the ADC hostage and blackmail them with the disclosure of confidential information unless a certain bounty is transferred to him.

But there is a clinical reality to this sort of behaviour. The behavioural pattern on display by Okonkwo, made up of the reckless public accusation without verifiable evidence, the refusal to recant when the named source publicly denies the claim, the escalation into threats, and the weaponisation of intimacy, is not the profile of a man engaged in principled whistleblowing. It is the profile of a man in psychological distress and operating without adequate internal regulation. It is impulsive. It is retaliatory. It is the behaviour of someone for whom the ordinary social compacts, including confidentiality, honesty, and proportionality, have ceased to function as constraints. Such a man ought to be feared and avoided.

Nigeria has had enough of public figures who treat others’ reputations as collateral damage in their personal vendettas. We have had enough of men who deploy the trust others placed in them as ammunition. Kenneth Okonkwo, once Andy Okeke in reel life, has now, in real life, given us a character study far darker than anything “Living in Bondage” imagined. Real life is showing us a man who sold his integrity not for ritual money, but for relevance, revenge, and the fleeting thrill of a trending hashtag.

Anyway, the courts will have their say. Obi’s lawyers have a clear brief. But beyond the courtroom, Nigeria must say its own piece. The time for indulging this kind of dangerous recklessness, cloaked in celebrity and legal credentials, is over. Kenneth ‘Andy’ Okonkwo owes Obi a retraction. He owes the Nigerian public an apology. And he owes himself, and urgently too, a period of reclusive introspection, or, if his kinsmen (Umunna) are paying attention, something of a consultative engagement with his chi . That could afford him some structured withdrawal to enable him to re-examine the connection between his mouth and his brain.

But one last line. Obi has been through APGA, PDP, LP, ADP and is now at NDC. Okonkwo has been through PDP, APC, LP and is now at ADC. So why is he inconsolable about Obi’s move to the NDC?

Tinubu Honours Heroes Of Democracy

Tosin Olatokunbo

June 12, 2026

As part of this year’s Democracy Day celebrations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has awarded National honours to some prominent Nigerians, who he said played a major role in Nigeria’s return to democratic government.

In his nationwide speech to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day, the president described the honourees as “architects’ of modern democratic Nigeria, saying their contributions contributed immensely to the nation’s return to civilian rule after a long stretch of military rules.

On May 29, 1999, General Abdusalami Abubakar, then Military Head of State handed over power to President Olusegun Obasanjo, bringing to end 15 uninterrupted years of military rule in the country which started after General Buhari took over the government of President Shehu Shagari, in a military coup.

Since then Nigerians, from across the country had clamoured for the return to democratic rule, which led to some of them losing their lives in the course of the struggle.

According to President Tinubu, Nigerians who fought for democracy included civilians and military officers, who he said paid a huge price such as persecution, incarceration and prison confinement for democracy to return to the country.

In the list read out by the president, 50 individuals were selected, including late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who the president said has been honored with the renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna after him.

The institution will now been known as General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology, the president said.

“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership. In recognition of his contributions, the Federal “Government has approved the revitalization and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

“I am also pleased to announce national awards to the following Nigerians, who suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement, so that we have democracy today,’ Tinubu said.

The Honourees

Apart from General Yar’Adua, the list of the honourees also include;

Barrister Ayoka Lawani

Tunde Fagbenle

Oladele Alake

Olatunji Bello

Louis Odion

Segun Babatope

Sam Omatseye

Sir Ademola Osinubi

Bola Bolawole

Lade Bonuola

Femi Kusa

Debo Adeniran

Chief Ayo Opadokun

Chief Ralph Obiora

Ose Osayande

Barrister Osa Director

Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine

Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous)

Dr Osagie Obayuwana

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin

Barrister Titus Mann

Joe Igbokwe

Richard Akinnola

Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous)

George Mbah

Dr Niran Malaolu

Major-General Ishola Williams (rtd)

Femi Aborisade

Jenkins Alumona

Gbemiga Ogunleye

Muyiwa Adekeye

Babajide Kolade-Otitoju

Ike Okonta

We also recognise the soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle:

Major General MA Garba

Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa

Col Umar Farouk Ahmed;

Col Sambo Dasuki;

Col Lawan Gwadabe;

Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong

Col Musa Shehu;

Major General Chris Eze;

Major General Harris Dzarma;

Col Isa Jibrin;

Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin;

Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom)

Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus

Col J Okai;

Col Emmanuel Ndubueze;

Lt Col Yakubu Muazu

Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe, who is already the holder of the CFR title.

Tinubu To Nigerians; “Abuse Me, But Don’t Give Up On Nigeria”

The Source

June 12, 2026

FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU’S DEMOCRACY DAY ADDRESS ON FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026

Fellow Nigerians

Today, we celebrate democracy and the enduring Nigerian spirit. For 27 unbroken years, since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers—not through violence. We have experienced the longest stretch of civilian rule in our history. Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it.

In the coming days, Ekiti and Osun States will hold elections. I urge INEC, security agencies, and all parties to ensure these polls are peaceful and credible. Democracy fails when citizens doubt the process. To our National Assembly, Judiciary, the Press, and Civil Society: you are the guardrails of our republic. Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria.

To our young people: Nigeria is your home and your future. Build here, code here, work here, and vote here. Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship.

To our armed forces, police, and intelligence services: Nigeria salutes your sacrifice. To our traditional rulers, faith leaders, and community heads: thank you for your support of peace and reconciliation. The government cannot do it alone.

Today, we honour the resilience of Nigerians who refused to surrender their faith in freedom, and the courage of those who stood firm against intimidation. We pay tribute to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile, and even death so that future generations could enjoy democracy. I salute labour leaders, journalists, activists, students, women, professionals, political leaders, and soldiers—both those who have passed and those still with us—for their patriotic contributions.

Though this year’s mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno, we remain hopeful for their safe return. Democracy without security is not solid enough. That is why this administration declared a security emergency and approved the recruitment of more than 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military recruits. Our 2026 budget commits N5.41 trillion—our largest ever—to defence and security. Our administration is ever ready to do much more to secure our people.

We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targeting. In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP’s command centre. Terror-related deaths are down by 81% since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year. But we also keep the door of surrender open. Over 124,000 fighters and dependents have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor.

To bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror: Surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.

At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.

June 12 occupies a sacred place in our national memory. It represents more than an election; it is a defining chapter in our story. We remember Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who won a pan-Nigerian mandate transcending ethnicity and religion. We remember Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

We also remember Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Alfred Rewane, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Dr 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 freedoms we enjoy today.

As beneficiaries of their struggle, we have a duty to strengthen and deepen the democratic institutions for which they fought. 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.

June 12, 1993, revealed the possibility of a true Nigerian nation. The heroes of June 12 secured political freedom. Our challenge is to secure economic freedom. 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.

The reforms we are undertaking were not chosen for ease, but for necessity. Three years ago, our public finances were under severe strain, investment was discouraged, and economic uncertainty threatened our future. We chose to act, embracing reforms to advance Nigeria’s economic freedom.

Since 2023, our reforms have restored stability and credibility to economic management. Federation revenues have risen, providing states and local governments with more resources for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security. Fiscal transparency has improved, leakage has been reduced, and public funds are better directed to national priorities. Investor confidence has returned, with investments in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, mining, transportation, and the creative industries growing.

Domestic refining capacity has increased, strengthening energy security and reducing our reliance on imported petroleum products.

By 2023, when we came on board, the electricity sector was characterised by chronic generation shortfalls, an unreliable gas supply, and transmission infrastructure so fragile that it could not evacuate available power. Distribution companies were burdened by massive losses and a metering deficit of over four million. Worst of all, the value chain was drowning in legacy debt. The result was a sector that generated less than the 13,500 Megawatts installed capacity, a sector that transmitted less than it generated, distributed less than it transmitted and collected revenue far below what it needed to sustain itself.

To address the problems besetting the sector, I signed the Electricity Act, which grants states authority to generate, transmit, and distribute power. The Presidential Power Sector Task Force is working hard to reduce the metering deficit. It has also been authorised to raise N4 trillion bond to settle verified legacy debts. The Rural Electrification Agency, supported by the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has deployed off-grid and mini-grid power to underserved communities, universities, markets, and hospitals. Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it.

Across the country, infrastructure projects are connecting producers to markets and creating opportunities for enterprise and employment. The National Agricultural Development Fund is deploying 10,000 tractors over five years. Over 1,000 SMEs have been certified for export. Non-oil exports grew by 21% last year.

Yet, many Nigerians still face economic hardship. We remain focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards, rebuilding confidence in our economy, and creating conditions for sustainable prosperity.

We are moving from uncertainty to stability. The next phase is about accelerating growth and ensuring the benefits are felt in every home, every community, and every region. We believe that Democracy must be felt in the pocket.

Recognising that democracy is undermined when people do not feel its impact, my administration has sought financial autonomy for our 774 local councils. A fundamental challenge to our nation’s advancement has been ineffective local government administration. The insecurity we are addressing is partly due to the collapse of grassroots governance. The Renewed Hope Agenda is about ensuring that all Nigerians benefit from governance.

Every generation has a defining responsibility. The generation of our founding fathers secured independence—the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity.

Let us move forward together—rejecting division, cynicism, and despair; embracing unity, hope, and confidence. Let us build a Nigeria united by a common purpose, strengthened by diversity, where justice is accessible, liberty is secure, and opportunity is abundant.

Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership. In recognition of his contributions, the Federal Government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

I am also pleased to announce national awards to the following Nigerians, who suffered persecution, endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement, so that we have democracy today.

Barrister Ayoka Lawani

Tunde Fagbenle

Oladele Alake

Olatunji Bello

Louis Odion

Segun Babatope

Sam Omatseye

Sir Ademola Osinubi

Bola Bolawole

Lade Bonuola

Femi Kusa

Debo Adeniran

Chief Ayo Opadokun

Chief Ralph Obiora

Ose Osayande

Barrister Osa Director

Prof. Sylvester Odion-Akhaine

Dr Arthur Nwankwo (Posthumous)

Dr Osagie Obayuwana

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin

Barrister Titus Mann

Joe Igbokwe

Richard Akinnola

Ben Charles-Obi (Posthumous)

George Mbah

Dr Niran Malaolu

Major-General Ishola Williams (rtd)

Femi Aborisade

Jenkins Alumona

Gbemiga Ogunleye

Muyiwa Adekeye

Babajide Kolade-Otitoju

Ike Okonta

We also recognise the soldier-democrats of the June 12 struggle:

Major General MA Garba

Brigadier General Lawal Jaafaru Isa

Col Umar Farouk Ahmed;

Col Sambo Dasuki;

Col Lawan Gwadabe;

Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong

Col Musa Shehu;

Major General Chris Eze;

Major General Harris Dzarma;

Col Isa Jibrin;

Maj. General Joseph Oshanupin;

Col Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom)

Lieutenant Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus

Col J Okai;

Col Emmanuel Ndubueze;

Lt Col Yakubu Muazu

Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the Current Etsu Nupe, who is already the holder of the CFR title.

The honours list will be released in the next few days.

Fellow Nigerians, 27 years ago, many doubted democracy would survive here because of our diversity. Today, our diversity sustains our democracy. The road ahead is steep. But June 12 reminds us: Nigerians do not break. We bend, we bleed, but we do not break.

Let us renew our covenant: That the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this land.

May God bless the heroes of our democracy. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. May God continue to bless us all.

Happy Democracy Day.

BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCF

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Aisha Yesufu To Dickson: Don’t Compete With Your Candidate, Unite Aggrieved Aspirants

Ayodele Oni

June 12, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

A former senatorial aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has advised the party’s National Leader and former Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, to focus on how the party’s candidates can win during next year’s general elections.

Yesufu stated that Dickson should stop competing with the party’s presidential ticket holder, Peter Obi.

She made the allegation following his recent comments on the party’s internal affairs.

In a post shared on X on Thursday, Yesufu reacted to Dickson’s televised interview on Arise TV, where he addressed concerns surrounding the NDC’s just-concluded primaries and defended the party’s handling of the exercise.

Dickson had acknowledged that the primaries were not perfect, citing administrative and logistical challenges faced by the relatively young party as it conducted membership registration, congresses, and multiple layers of elections within a compressed electoral timeline.

However, Yesufu faulted his remarks, insisting that his public communication did not reflect the tone expected of a party leader seeking to unify aggrieved aspirants and consolidate support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

She argued that instead of reassuring party members and rallying support behind the NDC’s candidates, the interview appeared to centre more on personal positioning than party cohesion.

“It looked as if you were insecure and in competition with your presidential candidate,” she wrote.

Yesufu further criticised what she described as the party leadership’s handling of post-primary grievances, saying the focus should have been on calming tensions among aspirants and supporters rather than escalating internal disagreements.

According to her, the role of a party leader at such a critical time is to promote unity, acknowledge shortcomings, and take responsibility where necessary, rather than shift blame or heighten internal friction.

She also questioned the political orientation of the party leadership, suggesting that the NDC risks treating itself as an electoral platform, rather than a structured political organisation with the clear objective of winning national elections.

“With all due respect sir, it looks as if you consider the NDC a Special Purpose Vehicle whose aim has been achieved just by being registered instead of a political party whose aim is to win the 2027 general election decisively,” she added.

Yesufu maintained that the party’s immediate priority should be electoral victory in 2027, warning that internal ego battles and poor conflict management could undermine that goal.

She urged leaders to adopt humility in handling disputes, insisting that effective leadership requires accountability and the ability to unify divergent interests within the party.

“No one can take away your leadership of NDC, no one is interested in that! The focus is Nigeria winning the 2027 election,” she wrote.

Her remarks come in response to Dickson’s Arise TV interview, in which he defended the NDC’s primaries, acknowledged irregularities, and called for reconciliation among party members while urging stakeholders to support the party’s presidential candidates and ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Patrick Azubuike, 36, Suspected Nigerian Drug Kingpin Arrested, Charged In Thailand

Ayodele Oni

June 12, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Thai authorities have officially charged a suspected Nigerian Drug Kingpin, Ikenna Patrick Azubuike with illegal possession and distribution of a Category 2 narcotic (cocaine) and resisting arrest.

36 years old Azubuike had earlier been arrested by the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), in collaboration with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

He is being suspected of being a major transnational crime-boss during a high-stakes late-night operation.

The suspect, identified as Ikenna Patrick Azubuike (alias “Patrick”), was arrested outside a luxury condominium complex on Rama III Road in the Yannawa district of Bangkok after a violent attempt to evade capture.

The arrest team cornered Azubuike as he drove into his residence. Officers attempted to block his path with police vehicles, but the suspect aggressively reversed into the police blockade in a desperate attempt to ram his way out.

Several officers sustained injuries before police smashed the car’s windows, disabled the engine, and forcefully took him into custody. A subsequent search of his vehicle and apartment uncovered:

Thai intelligence reveals that Azubuike operated as the regional zone leader for “Dodorima,” a notorious regional alliance of West African criminals active in Southeast Asia.

Investigators claim the group is a prominent offshoot of the transnational Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) .

The syndicate is accused of running a double-edged operation involving high-level cocaine distribution and sophisticated romance scams.

While tracking a romance scam hub raided in Nonthaburi, investigators discovered intertwined digital evidence linking the scams directly to Azubuike’s drug logistics.

Financial analysts estimate that more than 380 million Baht shuffled through the network’s coordinated mule bank accounts over the past 12 months alone.

Police reports note that Azubuike had lived in Thailand for over seven years, initially operating as a street-level dealer before rising to manage regional logistics and catering to elite clients.

To mask the financial trail, the syndicate allegedly used community outreach programs, charitable donations, and a front company claiming to export dried fish to Nigeria.

During questioning, Azubuike acknowledged his involvement with narcotics, but strongly denied any money laundering charges, maintaining that his wealth originated from legitimate seafood exports.

Additional charges under stringent Thai money-laundering frameworks are currently being compiled as international partners work to freeze asset pipelines tied back to West Africa.

All Dead As Investigators Unravel Cause Of Pakistani Army Plane Crash

Ayodele Oni

June 12, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Investigations have commenced to determine causes of crash by a Pakistani army helicopter in which all passengers on board have been confirmed dead.

The incident happened near Pakistan-administered Kashmir, close to the city of Muzaffarabad, after developing a technical fault during takeoff.

The military confirmed that there were no survivors in the incident.

The aircraft, a Mi-17 used by the Pakistan Army Aviation, went down shortly after it began takeoff operations.

According to a statement from the military’s media arm, the crash happened because of a technical failure, and everyone on board lost their lives.

Kashmir remains a highly sensitive area due to long-standing tension between Pakistan and India, with both countries claiming the region.

The area has seen repeated military activity and past conflicts.

In recent days, there has also been a strong security presence in Muzaffarabad following plans by a protest group to hold demonstrations after being banned under anti-terror laws.

Authorities had increased monitoring in the area before the crash. Officials have not released the number of people who were on board the helicopter at the time of the incident.

FG Arrests ‘Overage Pilot’, Aircraft In Asaba Incident Grounded For Breaching Aviation Laws

Ayodele Oni

June 12, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revealed that the private aircraft which landed on a road in Ogwashi-Uku area near Asaba, Delta state, on Wednesday breached the country’s aviation laws.

The aircraft, traced to Dunamis International Gospel Centre, was reportedly not registered for commercial purposes and was being handled by a 70 years old pilot.

Report added that it was brought into Nigeria to operate on a non-commercial flight (PNCF) permit.

Under the terms, according to aviation rules, it is not supposed to be used as private charter, but this condition is now believed to have been violated.

UMO is owned by Mike Olaoye, a member of the church, while the pilot, Chris Baca, a Pakistani, has also been arrested for allegedly breaching the aviation age limit.

He is said to be 70 years old — five above the age limit for pilots operating in Nigeria.

NCAA has established that the aircraft was registered in the US in the name of Dunamis, whose senior pastor is Paul Enenche.

Until 2025, the aircraft operated under the name Mounthill Ltd, but switched operatorship to UMO Ltd in order to get the PNCF permit — which has now been suspended in the wake of the incident.

In a statement, Michael Achimugu, NCAA’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, stated that preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft conducted a missed approach while attempting to land at Asaba airport at about 7:43am.

“Reports received from personnel at the scene indicate that all occupants safely exited the aircraft and were transported to Asaba by road,” Achimugu said.

“The aircraft had four (4) crew members on board. At this time, no injuries to passengers or crew have been reported.”

He added that air traffic control was informed only after the aircraft had become airborne.

The NCAA immediately grounded the aircraft upon its arrival in Lagos pending the outcome of investigations.

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