Echoes of June 12 Democracy Day

Chiemelie Ezeobi, Mary Nnah, Yinka Olatunbosun, Rebecca Ejifoma, Sunday Ehigiator, Ayodeji Ake, Chiamaka Ozulumba and Oluwabunmi Fache, who monitored the commemoration of the Democracy Day on June 12 and the protests, report the peculiarities of each state including the Federal Capital Territory

Annually, June 12 represents a huge significance for Nigeria and indeed Nigerians because on that day in 1993, a presidential election was held for the first time since the 1983 military coup and was the freest, fairest, and most peaceful election ever held in Nigeria before it was annulled by the then General Ibrahim Babangida regime.

On that day, Nigerians shed the toga of ethnicity, class and religious barriers to elect their president after Babangida took over from Muhammadu Buhari in a bloodless coup in 1985. Hence, the annulment of that election significantly altered the history of Nigeria 28 years on.

Democracy Day
Essentially, Democracy Day marks the day the military handed over power to an elected civilian government in 1999, marking the beginning of the longest continuous civilian rule since Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule in 1960. 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 before it changed to a national day of commemoration.

Change of Date
Annually, Democracy Day was usually marked on May 29 until President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 decided to change it to June 12, in honour of Bashorun Moshood Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the controversial June 12, 1993 presidential election.

On the reason why the date for Democracy Day was changed, he said: “When this administration decided to change our Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 in my first tenure, it was not only to honour the sacrifices of the men and women of our country who fought for the return to democracy but also to demonstrate our commitment to satisfy the aspirations of the people and creating an environment for democracy to be an accepted way of life.”

Democracy Day Speech
In his speech on Democracy Day this year, President Muhammadu Buhari noted that as with all democracies, ” we will always be going through improvement processes in our desire to reach the goal of a mature democracy, a strong, evolved and integrated nation state to be reckoned with globally. In the last two years we have witnessed and overcome a good number of testy challenges that would have destroyed other nations especially relating to our collective security.

“The indefatigable CAN DO Spirit of the Nigerian has sustained us and would keep pushing us to put these challenges behind us. Unfortunately some of these challenges came in the shape of violent outrages leading to the loss of lives of many of our dear compatriots and the destruction of some of our infrastructure, including those devoted to improving our democratic processes.

On insecurity he said: “When you elected me as your President in 2015, you did so knowing that I will put an end to the growing insecurity, especially the insurgency in the North-east, but the unintended consequences of our scattering them in the North-east pushed them further in-country which is what we are now facing and dealing with. We will, by the Grace of God put an end to these challenges too.

“Unfortunately, like in most conflict situations, some Nigerian criminals are taking undue advantage of a difficult situation and profiteering therefrom with the misguided belief that adherence to the democratic norms handicaps this administration from frontally and decisively tackling them. We are already addressing these obstacles and we will soon bring some of these culprits to justice.”

On economy, he added that “we are, at the same time addressing the twin underlying drivers of insecurity namely poverty and youth unemployment. Interventions led by government and the Central Bank of Nigeria driving economic growth over the past six years are targeted mostly to the agricultural, services, infrastructure, power and health care sectors of the economy.”

Also, he said his vision “of pulling 100 million poor Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years has been put into action”, adding that they were able to do all these and “still accelerate our infrastructure development through sensible and transparent borrowing, improved capital inflow, improving and increasing revenue through capturing more tax bases and prudent management of investment proceeds in the Sovereign Wealth Fund”.

On infrastructural revolution, he noted that it continues as he is focused on “ensuring that our infrastructure drive is key to economic growth and one that can be felt by every Nigerian. Building critical infrastructure in our ports is also opening up opportunities for the Nigerian economy.”

Protest Marred by Low Turnout
For weeks, plans were put in top gear to organise a protest on Democracy Day to register their grouse displeasure with the state of the nation amongst other things.

However, despite the preparation prior to the democracy day, the peculiarities of the different states showed up. While some successfully carried out the planned protest, others did not for security reasons, especially states bedevilled by insecurity.

From Abia to Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and FCT, the difference was quite glaring.

Abia

There was total calm in Abia State as businesses were opened and residents moved about peacefully with their normal daily activities despite protests against the annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election.

Major roads in Umuahia, like Bende ,Ikote-Ikpenne and Aba roads were all busy as usual while Aba Osisioma, Aba-Owerri Faulks and Azikiwe roads were also busy as security agencies were not seen patrolling the town except those on normal patrol duties.

The zero protest was probably due to the order on restriction of movement given earlier by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. The governor had few weeks back, imposed an indefinite curfew in the state following reports of violence and insecurity in the state.

Kano

There was heavy security presence in Kano metropolis because of the protest in the state.

The security personnel which comprises men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), among others were stationed in strategic areas with their vehicles at alert to forestall any break down of law and order.

The security personnel were observed in their large number around popular Gadan Lado and Dangi Bridge. It was gathered that some activists had planned to stage a protest in the ancient city of Kano with the convergence point at Zaria road by Zoo road.

Kwara

The Democracy Day celebration was peaceful in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. Although security forces comprising soldiers, DSS, Police and members of the NSCDC manned strategic locations in the state capital, no major incidents were reported as witnessed in some parts of the country.

Kogi

Residents of Kogi State shunned any form of protests as most of them remained home. This may not be unconnected with the state governor, Yahaya Bello’s directive asking them to ignore every form of protest within the state.

Abuja
The protest held in Abuja but they soon clashed with supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari at Unity Fountain.

Meanwhile, policemen thwarted the protest in the Gudu area when they stormed the area and started firing teargas canisters. The protest began around 08:30 am and was going on smoothly with the protesters, mostly youths, expressing their dissatisfaction with the state of the nation.

The protesters, who chanted “Buhari must go”, “Say no to injustice”, amongst other solidarity phrases, took to their heels and scampered for safety when the security operatives started shooting.

Kaduna

In Kaduna, although the streets were deserted, there were no protests as residents went about their various businesses. Also, the heavy rains that fell proved a major impediment.

Gombe

Residents of Gombe went about their various activities unlike some states that commercial activities ground to a halt.

Borno

Normal activities were recorded in Borno State capital, Maiduguri as citizens shunned the nationwide protests. Prior to the Democracy Day, the Arewa Youth Alliance, AYA, a coalition of socio-political groups on Friday had warned the organisers of the June 12 protests to steer clear off the northern part of the country adding that the country was yet to recover from the destruction caused by #EndSARS protests.

Nasarawa