… Canvasses support for Tinubu ‘s Re- Election
The 2026 June 12 Democracy 12 Speech of President Bola Tinubu offers a renewed and improved framework for a “sustained quality control “ of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Comrade Issa Aremu, Director General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies ( MINILS) Ilorin and Member of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru Jos made this observation at the weekend in Ilorin . He spoke at the JUNE 12 AND DEMOCRACY DAY COMMEMORATION organized the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and MINILS, a front line human rights organization attended by members of organized labour, civil societies, People Living with disabilities, women and youth organizations.
The Director General said “with 7 presidential election cycles, scores of state elections and bye-elections, hundreds of National and state Assembly elections, Nigeria has done “credibly well” “in quantitative terms” since 1999. He however observed that Nigeria’s democracy suffers “huge Quality Control deficits” manifesting in “politics of zero-principles and ideologies, “worsening income inequality, de-industrialization and mass unemployment, deepening mass poverty and insecurity scourge” .
Aremu said it was time the cycle of elections translated into good governance that should start with immediate cessation to current worsening insecurity. According to him, the speech of President Bola Tinubu was “ truly Presidential” by serving terminal notice to insurgents adding that security architecture “must be immediately overhauled with sanctions for non-performing and sabotaging personnel and reward and security for diligent and patriotic personnel “ .
The Director General hailed the clarion call of the President to Nigerian youths to stay in Nigeria to “ Build here, code here, work here, and vote here” . Aremu however said Nigeria must return to sustainable Development plans as opposed to what he dubbed “knee-jerk shock-therapy market reforms” in order to reinvent labour intensive industries like textiles and automobiles that would meaningfully take the youths out of irregular migration and “voluntary slavery called Jappa”, banditry and kidnappings” .
“ Turn ungoverned spaces into factories and police posts, replace arms with factory working tools for the youths and get mileage in curbing banditry, the sustainable solution to insecurity is development, industrialization and decent job creation” he said.
Aremu said the commendable retention and expansion of public service jobs from estimated 700, 000 to 1.3 million Public servants, new minimum wage, clearance of huge legacy pension arrears by President Bola Ahmed eminently qualifies him for second term but added that it was time Nigeria moved from reform to transformation in next dispensation. According to him, June 12 was beyond free and fair elections but more about “Fare-well To Poverty “ policy of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola adding that observance of democracy anniversary tasked the political class to reinvent politics of compassionate ideology through human centre polices. “Yes CBN under Mr. Olayemi Cardoso has rightly stabilized the monetary and financial sector, moderated inflation, rebuilt external reserve and reconsolidated the banks. But the promise of Renewed Hope agenda is for CBN and fiscal authorities is to target job creation, economic growth and development”. Comrade Aremu said 2026 June 12th anniversary was hunted by the “unacceptable spectre of Nigeria’s conspicuous absence at the on going FIFA World Cup. “Chief Moshood Abiola was as much a fighter for a democratic mandate claim just as he was a legendary Pillar of sport in Africa, Nigeria’s sport administrators must reclaim the momentum to return Nigeria to the comity of footballing Nations” he said.