Nigeria’s June 12 Democracy Day — Evolutionary Perspectives

The day Nigeria now recognises as Democracy Day, in 1993 left the country with a taste of a general election that is so unique in many stratum and never replay itself. The general election was for the first time in the turbulent political history of this great entity of multi-tribalism not a barrier as all tribes came out with one voice to support the Western Region. This is the story of June 12 Democracy Day in Nigeria.

The antecedent of June 12 Democracy Day in Nigeria

The story of June 12 Democracy Day in Nigeria began long before the time it left its indelible yet painful incision. Prior to the time, the Northerners have never agreed with the other regions on serious political issues that affect the generality of the country. Especially the events and aftermath of the clamour for self-independence on the floor of the House, a motion moved by Late Chief Anthony Enahoro, (a member of Action Group) who was later countered by the Northern Legislator, who almost bungled our early chance at independence with a counter-motion—this would later go on to metamorphose into the popular Kano Riot.

While the rest may be history, I bet to emphasize that they (Northerners) supported the candidacy of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola of the Social Democratic Party with all their hearts. Although, up against a Northern candidate in the mold of Bashir Tofa, he had a considerably fair share of sympathy from there.

The Beginning of the End—June 12 Democracy Day

So here goes the initial face-off that culminated into a serious desire for democratic governance since that time to June 12, 1993, the date which later becomes the Democracy Day of Nigeria. The only difference between military and democratic systems of government is in the configuration of the relationship between the governed and the government. It is more like a direct opposite of what seem inalienable under democracy; what is obtainable under military.

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So, six years after our independence on October 1, 1960, there was a whirlwind from the Federal Military Government spearheaded by Maj. Gen. Agunyi Ironsi. He would not survive beyond six months alongside his strategy – not to pave way for a democratic take-over after the country had grappled with a lot of restiveness, public protests, vandalism, kidnappings, treasonous violence and strapping sanity naked prior to 1966 military junta- for Yakubu Gowon, a Military Whiz Kid was waiting in line to run the rule.

The Military Complicity

Gen. Muritala Muhammed and Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo were the last two sets of Military rulers before a Civilian interregnum, which was made possible by an unusually liberal Decree dressed to bring to attract civilian rule. The stability of civilian rule people had hoped for would also not be actualized until the year 1999. As much as one would like to dip hands into history, there are other areas worth paying attention to for the sake of June 12, Democracy Day.

If you read history well enough, you would understand that the so-called great leaders are directly complicit in the ruination of Nigeria’s destiny and the destruction of the most peaceful election of June 12, 1993 leading to what later becomes Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Truth be told, Abiola’s mandate was unjustly stolen and it was an insult to our collective sense of justice as a nation. The military ruler and dictator, Babaginda, had maradonaed the country for a long time, using democracy as a carrot stick to further sing the requiem on the economy (which till this day we still suffer for it) and cultivate an indelible culture of corruption. People were tired of military dictatorship and even though you might not have lived under a dictatorship, you must have come across a copious note on it from Cuban, Haitian, Zimbabwean, Congolese, Ugandan, and-so-on writers to have a small feeling. So the appetite for a democratic governance grew stronger at the time.

One would have thought that Nigeria’s democracy was handed to us freely with the way the government of the day and our leaders in time past practiced the system of government, which is so revered by many nationalists, patriots, activists and social and political philosophers around the globe. Well, the global trend does not suggest that it is Nigeria alone that does not know how to handle democracy. For that reason, the experience of June 12 Democracy Day, occured anyway.

However, Nigeria would have been an excellent example for other nations in the African democratic leadership but questions now straddle on the occipital and forehead of our leaders who have chosen to practice or perhaps define our democracy differently from the postulate, Abraham Lincoln. .

Many a critic, who are displeased with the manner this astonishingly beautiful princess called June 12 Democracy Day has been desecrated like the way the Trojan women in the women of Owu lost the shrine of obatala; a god of divinity in recent time have opined that, “we need to consider the blood stains on the clothes of our deflowered democratic princess calling for attention and vengeance.  With following list of issues on the lips of agitators basically to reduce the bogus salaries of some politicians, pay workers a living wage, open the borders for more food items,justice for ENDSARS victims, abolishing 1999 constitution, end insecurity and insurgency that is fast spreading to the South, reversal of obnoxious electricity tariff, reversal to a regulated fuel price and stop further increment, among many others.”

Should we begin to say that democratic elements set apart protest as a demand for good government and a way to make the government check its policies and activities.

Albeit, in our nation, the narratives have become something that needs attention and thorough check. Protesters daily are arrested and detained by the Armed Forces of the government, they are sometimes beaten and brutalised for demanding good governance and staging peaceful protest. Do we say, the government of the day doesn’t allow any protesters to rightfully make their demands in the public or perhaps peaceful protests are not allowed to display their dismay about the government of the day?

Tellingly, one will begin to wonder; is this the type of democracy that we desire for our nation or is this the type of democracy that our heroes past fought for with all their power and strengths? For the record, most of our leaders today have one time enjoyed the gains of the collective inputs of our nationalists who fought militantly and gave their lives for what we call democracy. Of course, this might go without raising eyebrows in some quarters but the perceived abuse of the system boils down to the people, who take advantage of their array of freedom to cause distractions for the government by availing themselves to be used by unscrupulous elements.

Today, where there is no freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of the judiciary and the freedom of association and even religion in a democracy,  we are quick to say that it is authoritarian, fascist, to an extent of being fair, pseudo-democratic. Nigeria picks June 12 as Democracy Day, maybe, out of reluctant because in actual sense, it is impracticable.

But while you try to lionise Abiola, the tragic hero of the day now known as June 12 Democracy Day in Nigeria, look at his dealings with the military governments, with Babaginda and Abacha in particular. Look at what led to Shonekan’s removal. Look at his complicity, too. Nigeria education should teach real history about the day its government has chosen as June 12 Democracy Day.

Folaranmi Richardson, Ajayi writes from Ilesa, Osun State. Email: ajayifolaranmi@gmail.com Twitter & IG:@Ajayienigma

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Folaranmi Ajayi

Folaranmi Ajayi is an educator, investigative journalist with special interest in education,career development for students, project writing, public speaking and online training.