- The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 12, as public holiday in Nigeria to celebrate democracy
- The initial Democracy Day was May 29 until President Muhammadu Buhari shifted it to June 12
- The government then urged Nigerians to preserve the legacy of democracy heroes by promoting unity
The federal government of Nigeria has declared Wednesday, June 12, as a work-free day to celebrate democracy.
This announcement was made by the minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, via a statement from his ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Aishetu Ndayako.
Initially, Democracy Day was celebrated annually on May 29 since the return of Nigeria to the democratic system of government from military rule 25 years ago.
However, the annual day for celebrating democracy was shifted from May 29 to June 12 by erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2018, to honour Chief M. K. O. Abiola, a hero of democracy.
The military government of Ibrahim Babangida, which lasted from 1985-1993, planned to hand over power to a civilian government and organised elections to ensure this. The presidential election was contested by MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Unannounced and denied, but Abiola was believed to have won the election by capturing over 58 per cent of the total votes cast.
Abiola would go on to declare himself the winner of the election and president of the country, but he was detained by the Babangida government and died in detention in 1998.
The June 12 celebration is then not only for Nigeria’s sustenance of democracy at large but also for a hero like Abiola, who was blatantly denied victory and ascension to power.
In Tunji-Ojo’s words, “As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us all reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains a united, secured, peaceful and indivisible entity…and look forward to a better future for Nigeria’s Democracy.”
Also, he reiterated the commitment of the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to promoting the country through positive reforms and enhanced security.
On the other hand, the 2024 Democracy will be the second in President Tinubu’s tenure since he was sworn in on May 29, 2023.
