President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday praised The Guardian and some other media organisations for the huge role they played in restoring democracy in Nigeria.
Tinubu heaped plaudits on The Guardian and others in his address to the nation in a broadcast on the occasion of Democracy Day on June 12, 2024.
“We could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists,” he said.
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“We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines.
“Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties.”
Tinubu said despite the lethal might of the military government, what appeared to be high and unyielding walls of dictatorship came tumbling down.
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The President added that as a result of the prominent role played by the Guardian and some other media outlets, the dismal fortress of military dictatorship no longer exists in Nigeria.
He stated that the power of an idea, the power of the people proved more potent than all the guns and munitions, and the threats of the strongmen.
Tinubu said due to the effort of the media, the nation exited the yoke of military rule in 1999 to become the most populous democracy on African soil, the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world.
“This change stands as a pivotal moment in human history. From this change, we shall never turn, nor shall the annals of mankind’s progress forget the sublime meaning of this great moment,” he added.
“Today, 25 years later, we celebrate the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy. We have steadied the course.”
