Tomorrow is Nigeria’s Democracy Day. The day was initially marked on May twenty-nine to commemorate the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. However in 2018, the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari changed the date to June twelve, in recognition and honour of Moshood Abiola who was the acclaimed winner of June twelve, 1993 presidential election, which was cancelled by the government of Ibrahim Babangida
Abiola was later detained after he declared himself president and later died in detention.
Democracy in Nigeria has remained a tortuous journey.
Nigeria was granted full independence on October one, 1960 under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary government and a substantial measure of self-government for the then three regions of Northern, Western and Eastern regions. Later, Mid-Western region was created.
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first Prime Minister of Nigeria from 1960 to 1966.
In October 1963, Nigeria became a Republic and former Governor- General, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, became the country’s first President. On January fifteen, 1966, a group of young army officers, overthrew the government and assassinated the Prime Minister and the premiers of the northern and western regions. In a counter coup Nigeria’s first military Head of state, Major-General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi was assassinated and Yakubu Gowon took over power .
The return of democracy in Nigeria on May 1999 ended over a decade and half of
military rule and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo returned as an elected President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.
In 2007, late Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan were elected President and Vice President respectively.
Following the death of Yar’Adua in May 2010, Dr. Jonathan was sworn in as the President of the country and was elected again in April 2011. He lost his re-election bid in 2015 in which Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner. President Buhari was re-elected in February twenty-three, 2019 General election. At the end of Buhari’s tenure, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected the sixteenth president of Nigeria in 2023.
As Nigeria keeps contending with multiple national challenges, it is critical to reflect, reassess the journey of democracy, plan and decide to build a future upcoming generation will be proud of, devoid of ethnicity, religious bigotry, insecurity, violence, corruption and election malpractices. A Nigeria with social structures and resources that motivate her citizens to excel and attain their full potential .
A country that protects, strengthens, equip and empowers her citizens to fulfill their dreams without being illegal immigrants in foreign countries after dangerous journey across the sea .
There is need for reexamination and reevaluation by the government and the people to reverse the present narrative that is holding the country hostage on the course of speed with movement.
The leaders should look inwards for functional solutions that will stimulate and accelerate progress in national growth and development while the led should take ownership of the country by being alive to their civic responsibilities.
