By Chibuike Nwabuko
WASHINGTON DG (PRECISE POST) – As the the United States of America (USA) marks 249 years of Independence, the former President Barack Obama has reminded that America belongs to all of us, urging citizens to defend democracy.
Obama made the call in his independence day speech released on his X handle, where he reflected on the meaning of American democracy.
He urged citizens to recommit to its core principles in the face of growing global cynicism and political disengagement.
In his words, “Independence Day is a reminder that America is not the project of any one person.” “The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word ‘We.’ ‘We The People.’ ‘We Shall Overcome.’ ‘Yes We Can.’”
Framing democracy as a collective endeavour, Obama emphasized that the nation is not owned by any individual or group, but by all its citizens. “America is owned by no one. It belongs to all citizens,” he stated.
The former president also addressed the current political climate, suggesting that fundamental democratic values are increasingly under threat. “At this moment in history when core democratic principles seem to be continuously under attack, when too many people around the world have become cynical and disengaged, now is precisely the time to ask ourselves tough questions about how we can build our democracies and make them work in meaningful and practical ways for ordinary people,” Obama said.
Precise Post recalls that his message comes at a time when debates about democratic erosion, voter suppression, and political polarization are intensifying both in the U.S. and globally.
By invoking some of the most iconic phrases in American political rhetoric, Obama called on Americans to reclaim their collective voice and take responsibility for shaping the nation’s future.
Precise Post further recalls that the United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos were closed on Friday, July 4, 2025, in observance of U.S. Independence Day.
The announcement was made by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday. The closure marks the annual celebration of the United States’ declaration of independence from British rule in 1776 – a historic day commemorated across the U.S. with parades, concerts, barbecues, and fireworks.
