Democracy Day Celebration in Nigeria: Local government financial autonomy, OWELLE ROCHAS OKOROCHA'S victory as a case study -Rt.Hon. Godstime

Democracy Day in Nigeria is now being celebrated on the 12th of June starting this year. This is the first time the day has been marked on this date. And the change carries heavy symbolism for a country that’s known more years of being ruled by military men than by democratically elected leaders.

Until last year the date on which Nigeria commemorated the restoration of democracy was May 29. But last year President Muhammadu Buhari declared June 12 to be the new Democracy Day.

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June 12 carries huge significance for older Nigerians just as 11th June does to the good people of Imo west senatorial district and 1st June to Local Government Administration following the NFIU directives. It was on this June 12th in 1993 that presidential elections were held for the first time since the 1983 military coup. It was an event many observers have described as the most significant in Nigeria’s post-independence political history. It is still viewed as the freest, fairest and most peaceful election ever held in Nigeria.

On the day, an estimated 14 million Nigerians – irrespective of ethnic, religious, class, and regional affiliations, (in a period when religious acrimony and tension had reached its zenith) – defied bad weather to elect their president with the hope of ending eight years of military dictatorships.

The euphoria was short-lived. The results of the election were never released. But unofficial results gathered through the various polling stations by civil society groups across the country indicated broad national support for the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

Abiola was a businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Yoruba Egba clan. He made his fortune through various enterprises, including communication, oil and gas. He made his first, unsuccessful run at the presidency in 1983. By then, Nigeria had endured a great deal of political upheaval since its 1960 independence. It was a deeply divided nation, riven along ethnic, religious and regional lines. Political and military power was held by the north.

Then came Abiola, a man from the South. He brought a different perspective to the table and was able to connect with people across divides. In 12 June 1993, he tried for the presidency again.

Despite his popularity, and the turnout, the elections stalled just like the issuance of certificate of return to Owelle Rochas Okorocha after been declared winner of the Imo West senatorial election conducted on the 23rd March, 2019 and returned elected was stalled undemocratically under duress with out any committee set for fair hearing even after police report certificate the election as been free and fair with declaration made without hitches. The then military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, decided to annul the results of the election. He justified the annulment on the grounds that it was necessary to save the nation. He alleged that political activities preceding the election were inimical to peace and stability in Nigeria.

Some people however believe that the military underrated Abiola’s popularity. It also did not envisage the level of crisis after the annulment of the election result.

Local Governments must be allowed to run as a 3rd tier of Government which it is. Undemocratic and unconstitutional meddlesomeness by the 2nd tier of government headed by state governors will never be entertained for democracy sake and I sincerely want to thank the 1st tier of the Government of the federal republic of Nigeria and the Judiciary for being unconditionally democratic on this matter.

The June 12 election and subsequent annulment marked the beginning of a decades long struggle to see the election result restored and democracy rehabilitated just as the issuance of Certificate of Return for Imo west senatorial district to Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha by INEC yesterday 11th June, 2019 is seen by the progressive people of Orlu zone as democracy day.

President Buhari’s decision to mark 12 June as Nigeria's democracy day is to enable Nigerians remember Abiola’s stolen mandate and an annulled election that many still view as the country’s freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria and democracy.

On behalf of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), I stand to salute President Muhammadu Buhari and indeed all Nigerian progressives for supporting democracy in Nigeria while urging INEC to be independently democratic.

God bless Nigerian Youths

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

YAN them Happy Democracy Day

His Youthfulness,

Rt.Hon. Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel

YAN National Speaker