Between May 29 and June 12 1993: The Political Intrigues of Democracy Day Celebration in Nigeria

Abstract

The article examined an issue that has attracted wide-spread debates and intrigues in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic (1999-2018) - democracy day celebration. Initially May 29, ostensibly to mark the end of military rule and the commencement of the Fourth Republic; it was changed to June 12 almost two decades later. The reason for such action was to perhaps honour M.K.O Abiola; the acclaimed winner of the enigmatic June 12 1993 presidential election. Both decisions, particularly the latter, have been given various interpretations, particularly coming in less than a year to the 2019 general elections. The article therefore analyses the political intrigues around Democracy Day celebration in Nigeria. In achieving its objectives, an online survey was conducted among fifty-four Nigerians, resident in the country and in the Diaspora. Besides, scholarly works and newspaper articles were reviewed. The article argued that the decision to declare May 29 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day and the subsequent change to June 12 was elitist, politically-strategic and not in the interest of the people which democracy represents.