All you need to know about June 12, Its Origin, historical background and why it matters.
June 12 is widely known and celebrated across Nigeria as Democracy Day. It signifies the people's hope for a society that is truly for the people and also by the people. The event is used to celebrate Chief MKO Abiola, who was a presidential candidate in the June 12, 1993 election in Nigeria. Many believed he won the election. Although it was officially annulled, many still see him as the true winner, as his influence in Nigerian politics cut across religious and tribal lines. The election is considered to be the fairest in the country’s history.
Before it was officially recognized and declared by President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, it was initially celebrated on May 29.
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| A man holding the flag of Nigeria |
May 29 and Its Significance
Before June 12 was declared as Democracy Day in 2018, it had been celebrated on May 29 from 1999 to 2018. It was marked as Nigeria’s Democracy Day because it signified the end of military rule and the beginning of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria’s current democratic era.
The transition to a new democratic system took place in 1999 under the leadership of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nigeria's last military head of state, who handed over to a democratically elected civilian president, Olusegun Obasanjo. This ended 16 years of uninterrupted military dictatorship from 1983 to 1999, except for a brief attempt at a democratic transition in 1993 which was unsuccessful.
May 29 was seen as a new beginning for Nigerians after years of repressed rights and freedoms, coups, and annulled elections. The day symbolized progress, hope, and a fresh start where democracy became the order of the day.
What happened on june 12 1993?
The origin of today’s celebration of June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria can be traced back to the historic election that took place on that date in 1993. After experiencing the harshness of military rule, Nigerians were more than ready to exercise their voting rights and return to a democratic system where they could freely express themselves.
A large number of people came out to cast their votes and support the candidates of their choice. Under the military transition program at the time, only two political parties were recognized: the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC). SDP was represented by Chief MKO Abiola Kashimawo, while the NRC candidate was Bashir Tofa.
The election was held under the leadership of the military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida. MKO Abiola was widely popular across ethnic and religious lines. The election was peaceful and widely accepted as transparent. However, despite the credibility of the vote, the election was annulled by General Babangida. This decision sparked nationwide protests and international condemnation.
It plunged Nigeria into a prolonged period of political instability, which eventually led to Abiola’s arrest in 1994 after he declared himself president. He later died in detention on July 7, 1998, under unclear circumstances.
The 1993 election is still seen as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history. It affirmed the possibility of Nigerians uniting for a democratic ideal and choosing leadership based on merit rather than religion or ethnicity.
Why Was Democracy Day Changed from May 29 to June 12?
Although 1999 marked the official transition to democracy, many activists especially those from the south west region believed that the true representation of what democracy stands for happened in 1993. That year symbolized the people's will, their resistance to military dictatorship, and their desire for a truly democratic Nigeria.
They believed that celebrating June 12 not only honors the will and sacrifices of the people but also pays homage to those who died fighting for democracy and standing up for what they believed in.
Conclusion
The legacy of the people's firm belief in true democracy lives on. Years after the June 12 election, its impact is still being felt in Nigeria. It is not only seen as the true representation of democratic values but also as a rare moment in the country’s history where an election was free from ethnic and religious bias.
