Prior to the change from May 29 to June 12 by the PMB Govt. in 2018 democracy day in Nigeria was celebrated on May 29 which marked the day the Abdulsalam led Military Govt. handed over power to President OBJ on May 29 1999. That day ushered in a long stretch of uninterrupted civilian rule via an electoral cum democratic process since 1999 till dated in our nascent history as an independent post-colonial nation.
June 12 1993 was the day MKO is said to have won the presidential election under the SDP ticket.
That election was soon annulled by the IBB Govt. Most of the principal actors are no more – MKO died in detention in 1998. Justice Bassey Ikpeme who granted the infamous annulment order died in 1997. Clement Akpamgbo the HAGF and Augustus Aikhomu, IBB’s No.2 man, also passed in 2006 and 2011 respectively. And Abacha the Al Khalifa the Revered Rottweiler of Aso Rock died in 1998; But June 12 lingers on and resonates in the minds of many Nigerians (leftists and rightists alike) as a pivotal day in its political and democratic history. A day a downtrodden, militarized and brutalized people came together to speak truth to tyranny by casting their votes.
Annulment became a word interspersed with such other words/terms like impasse, junta, interim govt. , pro-democracy, oil glut, Maradona, dictatorship, freedom of speech, decree 2, Ouster clauses, parallel Market, Tribunal, Coup d’etat, Accessory after the facts, despot, political jingoism, Oil subsidy, PTF, pariah state et al that enriched the political discourse and ultimately our vocabulary.
It has been 27 years and the struggle continues but the dreams and aspirations of the purveyors of change enure in their soul and being like a flickering candle light burning in a cold consuming darkness. Aluta continua ! As activists are wont to say.
As we celebrate this year’s democracy day behind face masks and socially distanced Covid 19 protocols I wish all my Nigerian brethren bon chance! And bravo for your courage under adversity and strife. There is light after the tunnel. The night and the journey may seem long but joy will come in the morning. This cup too will pass.
Globally Covid 19 has given us an opportunity for pause and reflection and a much needed reboot.
A chance to view life through a different prism. From the George Floyd anti- racism and police brutality movement in America (With BLM doing much of the heavy lifting and contributing boots on ground to the protests). To the Tina and Vera Say no to rape and violence against women movement in Nigeria.
These are signs of a desire for change. Malcolm X famously wrote in his letter from Mecca how astonished he was at the diversity of race and color amongst the pilgrims engaged in common worship side by side in brotherly fashion. We are all one human race.
But change can only come if we put aside violence and hate and allow the healing process to take place. Let peace reign. Let love foster love. Let mankind flourish. Let all feel a sense of unity and global community. Let’s end poverty and hunger and disease in our lifetime.
Environmental reports show that the earth has been doing some healing of its own during the global lockdown as a result of lesser fossil fuel emissions from vehicles and factories. The skies are clearer and bluer and the grass is greener. Summer is upon us. The summer of change and healing.
So why don’t we as a common people, one humanity, heal as well.
We all must come together and collectively resolve that we shall emerge from this pandemic a better people and to a better world where, peace, justice, mutual respect and cooperation and self actualization on an individual and collective level would thrive. Selah ! I shall let my pen rest here and ink dry now.
DrAlexanderGrey 