Democracy Day in Nigeria is celebrated every 12 June. it carries a great symbol after being ruled from a Military regime to a civilian government.
Initially, the date on which Nigeria commemorated the restoration of democracy day was May 29. But was changed on 6 June 2018 by the current President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari
June 12 carries huge importance for older Nigerians because, in 1993, Nigeria had her Presidential elections for the first time since the military coup. it is respected as the freest, fairest, and most peaceful election ever held in Nigeria. This is after gaining Independence from the British government.
On that day, an estimated 14 million Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious, class, and regional affiliations, came out to elect their president with the hope of ending 8 years of military autocracies.
The results of the election were not released but results gathered through the various polling units by civic society groups across the country indicated that the Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola won the election.
Abiola was a successful businessman, and politician. People were beckoning on him to save the country after years of hardship under the military government. But despite his fame and popularity, the then head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida decided to decline the results of the election and got Abiola arrested. On 7 July 1998, he died in Suspicious circumstances.
In February 1999, Nigeria finally elects a Civilian president in the person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and was sworn in on 29 May 1999.
This explains why May 29 became the official public holiday on which Nigerians celebrated the country’s return to civilian rule.
Buhari’s decision to mark 12 June as Democracy Day should be seen as an attempt to appease the South Western Nigerian State, which has always set aside the day to remember Abiola’s stolen mandate and an annulled election that many still view as the country’s freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria and democracy.
As we celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, let’s unite to promote the Nigeria we want to see and take action by voting on who will want to take us to that promised land for a better Nigeria.
Happy Democracy Day!
