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] it was celebrated annually on May 29.[3] It is a tradition that has been held annually, beginning in year 2000. June 12 was formerly known as Abiola Day, celebrated in Lagos, Nigeria and some south western states of Nigeria.[4][5]

History

Background

Nigeria gained independence from Great Britain on 1st October 1960.[6][7] 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 in 1998. His successor, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar promised a transition to democracy, and accordingly a new constitution was adopted on May 5, 1999. 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 the President of Nigeria. On June 6, 2018, eight days after May 29, 2018, had been celebrated as Democracy Day, the President Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria declared June 12 to be the new Democracy Day.[8] This was done to commemorate the democratic election of MKO Abiola on June 12, 1993, which were wrongly cancelled by the Ibrahim Babangida government. MKO 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.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Okogba, Emmanuel (2022-06-15). "2022 Democracy Day celebrations: Significant highlights from the president's speech". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  2. ↑ "Why I made June 12 Democracy Day -Buhari". Punch Newspapers. 2021-06-12. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  3. ↑ Agbalajobi, Damilola. "June 12 is now Democracy Day in Nigeria. Why it matters". The Conversation. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  4. ↑ "Letter to MKO Abiola on Democracy Day". TheCable. 2022-06-11. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  5. ↑ Report, Agency (2019-06-11). "Democracy Day: Why June 12 is more significant than May 29 - Tinubu". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  6. ↑ Mohsin, Haroon (2022-07-08). "Nigeria Independence Day". National Today. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  7. ↑ "How first coup still haunts Nigeria 50 years on". 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  8. ↑ "Buhari declares June 12 Democracy Day, honours Abiola with GCFR". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  9. ↑ Unamka, Sampson (12 September 2020). "Attih Soul Shines Bright In RMF - The Nation". Retrieved 2021-01-01.
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