By Rotimi Ijikanmi
The Federal Government says Nigeria has a lot to celebrate with 23 years of uninterrupted democracy and its citizens reaping dividends of civil rule.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this on Thursday in Abuja at a media briefing to announce the activities lined up to commemorate this year’s June 12 democracy day.
Fielding questions from journalists, the minister recalled that between 1966 and 1999, the country had barely six years of democratic rule.
He said 1993 was a watershed in the history of the country when the first free and fair election was conducted, which was later annulled on June 12 of the same year by the military.
The minister also recalled that after the annulment of the 1993 elections, which brought Nigeria to the brink, the country was ruled by the military for another six years.
He noted that with the return to democracy in 1999, the country has not witnessed any military incursion.
“Between 1999 and 2008, we celebrated Democracy Day on May 29 and that was the day the military handed over power after a lot of disruptions.
“No government, before now, had the courage to declare June 12 as democracy day; it took the courage of President Mohammadu Buhari to do so.
“We are also celebrating the day to pay tribute to MKO Abiola, winner of the 1993 Presidential election and also to other Nigerians who lost their lives during the struggle.”
Earlier, the minister announced that the press briefing, kick-starting activities for the 2022 democracy day celebration, would be followed by a public lecture and Jummu’a service on Friday in the National Mosque, Abuja.
He said on Sunday, June 12, there would be a presidential broadcast in the morning and a Church Service in the National Christian Centre at 3 p.m.
The Minister said that there would be a Ceremonial Parade on Monday to be held at the Eagle Square from 9 a.m.
According to him, attendance at all the events is strictly by invitation and in line with the COVID-19 protocols.
It will be recalled that President Buhari, in June 2018, directed that Nigeria’s Democracy Day, marked every May 29, be shifted to June 12 in honour of MKO Abiola, winner of the 1993 presidential election.
In compliance with the presidential directive, this year’s celebration will be the fourth time that Nigeria’s Democracy Day will be marked on June 12. (NAN)
