We can’t elude the events surrounding the June 12, 1993 election in our democratic history. The day marked a huge significance in our journey towards the democratic fold. In the 1993 Elections, the campaign mantra of the late MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), one of the presidential hopefuls and the presumed winner, was Hope’93. His political message was hope for a better future, a better place to live for the citizenry and of course democracy. Alas, rays of hope for a better tomorrow indeed beamed on Nigerian citizens.
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The election was not only judged as the freest, fairest and most credible one ever in Nigeria’s political history; but it was also an unprecedented time when citizens resolved to participate in electoral processes to right our wrongs of military incursion and transit to civilian rule. We all rose up to the occasion with a common voice, agreed interest and unity of purpose as a people. On this day, we defied all circumstances and turned out en masse to perform the most important civic duty as electorate. We went to the polls to rekindle hopes and positivity in our collective yearnings and aspirations for Nigeria. We voted for hope, and that marked a watershed in our struggle towards achieving democratic state. More than anything, it was not only a vote for hope, but also a vote to champion democracy. While the election was annulled, our determination, resoluteness, resilience and, most importantly,, hope as a nation have remained firm over the years. These are all that have been keeping us going as a people despite our socio-economic and political challenges. We have kept hope alive and stayed true to our lofty dreams of the emergence of a better Nigeria where everyone enjoys the dividends of democracy.
In Nigeria today, while we recognise the true significance of June 12 as the Nigerian Democracy Day, it is important that we realise that it is a trying time for our democracy. There are various challenges confronting our democracy over the past two decades. But at the core of addressing these challenges is active citizens participation.
Beyond elections, an important example was during the #EndSARS protests, which garnered participation of citizens from various backgrounds. Nigerians, particularly the youths, came out with a common voice and took part in one of the largest socio-political movements since the country’s transition to democracy in 1999. To a large extent, this showed hope that it is possible to build a nation where democracy can work for all. And, more than anything, citizens are actively participating in civic duties, demanding accountability from their governments and institutions, and contributing their own quota to strengthening our democracy. More importantly, this movement increasingly led to the citizens’ increased desire to be actively involved in matters of governance, concerned about issues of national importance, thus harmonising our voices to bring about the needed restructuring and reforms.
In all, to encourage more participation of the citizens in the Nigerian democratic space, there is a critical need to facilitate efficient accountability and create an effective avenue through which public office holders can be held accountable. This can happen by allowing press freedom to thrive, ensuring open governance by respecting citizens’ right to information, creating platforms for citizens to make inputs into policies, and giving them the constant opportunities to gain the necessary knowledge to be active citizens of a participatory democratic system. Without any doubt, this is going to be a harbinger of socio-economic prosperity as the citizens feel involved in shaping the fate of their own country and shift the power to them; the real and foundation of democracy.
Together, we won’t give way to our democracy to die. Yet again, hope indeed beckons! Happy Democracy Day 2021.
Agbaje Ayomide is a freelance writer.
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