Democracy Day (Nigeria) Explained

Democracy Day is a national public holiday in Nigeria to commemorate the restoration of democracy in 1999, commemorated on 12 June.[1] Until 2018,[2] [3] it was celebrated annually on May 29.[4] It is a tradition that has been held annually, beginning in year 2000. June 12 was formerly known as Abiola Day,[5] celebrated in Lagos and some South-western states of Nigeria.[6] [7]

History

Background

Nigeria gained independence from Great Britain on 1 October 1960.[8] [9] For most of its independent history, Nigeria was ruled by a series of military juntas, interspersed by brief moments of democratic rule (for example from 1979 to 1983 with Alhaji Shehu Shagari). The last major military ruler was Gen. Sani Abacha, who died suddenly on Monday in 1998.[10] His successor, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar promised a transition to democracy, and accordingly a new constitution was adopted on May 5, 1999.[11] Elections were held and retired Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who had previously governed Nigeria as a military ruler, was elected the new president.

Democracy Day

May 29 was initially the official democracy day in Nigeria, marking when the newly elected Olusegun Obasanjo took office as President of Nigeria. On June 6, 2018, eight days after May 29, 2018, had been celebrated as Democracy Day, the government of president Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 to be the new Democracy Day.[12] This was done to commemorate the democratic election of Moshood Abiola on June 12, 1993, which was wrongly cancelled by the government of Ibrahim Babangida. Abiola was later detained after he rightfully declared himself the president.

Others

The Nigerian Democracy Day theme song was written by Attih Soul on the directives of the Buhari led administration in 2017 as part of the celebration to mark the day.[13]

See also

References

  1. Web site: Okogba . Emmanuel . 2022-06-15 . 2022 Democracy Day celebrations: Significant highlights from the president’s speech . 2022-12-22 . Vanguard News . en-GB.
  2. Web site: 2021-06-12 . Why I made June 12 Democracy Day -Buhari . 2022-12-22 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  3. Eze . Ogemdi Uchenna . 2021-05-04 . From 29 May to 12 June: Journalistic Framing of Change in the Date of the Commemoration of Democracy Day in Nigeria . Critical Arts . 35 . 3 . 1–16 . 10.1080/02560046.2021.1956556 . 0256-0046.
  4. Web site: Agbalajobi . Damilola . June 12 is now Democracy Day in Nigeria. Why it matters . 2022-12-22 . The Conversation . en.
  5. News: History of June 12 in Nigeria, how MKO Abiola become symbol of democracy and why e dey important to di Yoruba pipo . 2024-06-16 . BBC News Pidgin.
  6. Web site: 2022-06-11 . Letter to MKO Abiola on Democracy Day . 2022-08-01 . TheCable . en-US.
  7. Web site: Report . Agency . 2019-06-11 . Democracy Day: Why June 12 is more significant than May 29 - Tinubu . 2022-12-22 . Premium Times Nigeria . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Mohsin . Haroon . 2022-07-08 . Nigeria Independence Day . 2022-12-23 . National Today . en-US.
  9. News: How first coup still haunts Nigeria 50 years on. 2016-01-15. 2019-04-29. en-GB.
  10. Web site: The Trans-Pacific, Volume 24, Issue 24 - 1936-06-11 . 2024-02-14 . Manchuria Daily News Online.
  11. Web site: 2014-06-08 . Democracy in Nigeria and the need for change - Daily Trust . 2024-06-16 . dailytrust.com/ . en-US.
  12. News: Buhari declares June 12 Democracy Day, honours Abiola with GCFR . en-US . Punch Newspapers . 2018-06-07.
  13. Web site: Attih Soul Shines Bright In RMF - The Nation. Unamka. Sampson. 12 September 2020 . en-US. 2021-01-01.

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