The Federal Government has announced that Thursday, June 12, 2025, will be a public holiday to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day.
This declaration was made on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as stated in a Sunday announcement by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.
The Minister extended his congratulations to Nigerians on achieving 26 years of uninterrupted civilian rule.
He emphasized that “June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign and peace is sustained and our future assured.”
Tunji-Ojo added that “the last 26 years tells the story of our resilience, strength and courage and a hope Renewed than ever.”
He further noted that democracy thrives on continuous improvement, reiterating the Renewed Hope government of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the universal values of democracy.
This commitment is rooted in the freely expressed will of the people in shaping Nigeria’s political, economic, social, and cultural systems.
Persecondnews recalls that June 12 was officially recognized as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in June 2018, when former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill into law.
This date commemorates the 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in a landslide victory against his National Republican Convention (NRC) opponent, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa.
The annulment of this election by then-military leader General Ibrahim Babangida ignited a series of events that formed the foundation of Nigeria’s current democratic journey.
Pro-democracy groups, trade unions, the media, and political allies of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola relentlessly agitated for civil rule, making it difficult for the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha to contain the public demand for democracy.
In 1998, after taking over as Military Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (retired) successfully transitioned Nigeria to a democratic government on May 29, 1999.
This date was initially proclaimed a national public holiday.
However, persistent agitations from the South-Western states and political associates of the late Abiola called for the immortalization of the businessman-turned-politician by declaring June 12 as the country’s Democracy Day.
The Oodua States (Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, and Ekiti) even declared June 12 a regional public holiday to strongly advocate for what they considered the true “Democracy Day.”
In 2018, to mark June 12, President Muhammadu Buhari made a significant gesture by apologizing to Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s family and posthumously awarding him the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR).
A year later, President Buhari took the step of officially recognizing June 12 as the nation’s day to commemorate civil rule.
With the enactment of the June 12 Act, May 29 officially gave way to June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
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