By Nsikakabasi Akpan
Thursday June 12, 2025, Nigeria marked another Democracy Day. The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, delivered a special address at a joint session of the National Assembly. His words were rich in history, emotion and vision. He praised the sacrifices made by many to secure Nigeria’s democracy and highlighted his administration’s achievements in the economy, security and infrastructure.
But let us be honest, the average Nigerian is not celebrating. On the streets, in markets, at motor parks and in homes, the question is the same: how does this speech reduce the price of food?
A popular comment on social media says it all: “Hunger no dey hear grammar.” That is the bitter truth.
President Tinubu in his address said, “We must work even harder to translate broad macroeconomic gains into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.” This shows he is aware that the hardship is real. He said GDP has grown, inflation is easing, and more people are getting access to consumer credit. He even promised a new initiative to empower 400,000 young Nigerians with loans by July.
These are commendable moves. But for most Nigerians, the praise does not matter if there is still no food on the table. Many cannot afford basic items. Garri, rice, beans and yams are now luxury goods for millions. People are tired of hearing about policies that take forever to bring relief.
Yes, the President has a duty to speak about democracy, reforms and future plans. He rightly reminded the nation that “governance must work and deliver value to the people.” But people are asking: when will that value be felt in real life?
In truth, Nigerians have been patient. They have endured removal of fuel subsidy, exchange rate shocks and rising food prices. The President said these reforms are necessary for long term growth. But the hardship in the short term is crushing.
Even security, another big topic in the President’s speech, has not improved enough. Kidnappings still occur, roads are still unsafe, and many communities live in fear.
To his credit, President Tinubu has not denied the suffering. He said, “Our nation is not perfect, but it is strong. Our democracy is not invincible, but it is alive.” He also announced new honours for many heroes of democracy, including late Kudirat Abiola, Prof Wole Soyinka and the Ogoni Nine, which is a powerful symbolic gesture.
However, symbols cannot feed the hungry. Speeches cannot pay school fees. National honours cannot fix the broken power supply or bring down transport fares. Democracy is about the people. And when the people are hungry, democracy feels like an empty promise.
On this Democracy Day, what Nigerians want is simple. They want affordable food. They want jobs. They want safety. They want electricity. They want to live with dignity.
The President has said the right things. Now he must do the right things quickly and boldly. The time for long talk is over. Nigerians want action, not grammar.
Akpan is a Political Scientist and writes from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
