Democracy is a system of government of the people administered by the people for the people. Under the principle all citizens have equal political rights. Anyone - man or woman - has the right under the Constitution of the nation to aspire to any position in the government of the nation - even the Presidency. It's a system of governance that acknowledges the dignity of man under the law of the land. It's the hallmark of good government all over the world. In 1960, Nigeria became a sovereign nation by obtaining her independence from British colonial rule. Six years later in 1966, the Military took over the government in a coup d'etat. From then, the military had started having incursions into government in Nigeria until May 29, 1999 when a civilian government was sworn in and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo took office as a civilian president after 30 years of military rule in Nigeria, a situation we had long expected. In order to immortalise the return of democratic rule in Nigeria, the President, Olusegun Obasanjo declared May 29 of each year 'Democracy Day' and public holiday to celebrate it. The day is since being observed as a public holiday. What events led to democracy day and why celebrating it' Yesterday, Nigeria marked 52 years as an independent nation. Of the years, 30 years had been spent under military rule - regime that's subjected to force and which does not connote peace. This is a worldwide view of military government. No country wants to be governed in an atmosphere devoid of peace. During the military era in Nigeria, continuous efforts were made to return the country to civilian administration, but such efforts were being thwarted by the military, which having tasted power in governance, seemed to have forgotten their legitimate role of protecting the territorial integrity of the country and was not willing to let go power to rule. Over the years, the unwillingness of the military to hand over power to the civilians took different twists in exchange of power between military and civilians. This unwillingness of the military to hand over power to the civilians led to groups of people (civilians) forming themselves into democratic forces to find peaceful means to ease off the military from governance. It was not an easy task. In the process, a few people died and many people fled the country to regroup outside the country to continue the process of easing off the military from governance in Nigeria. In 1993, the effort of the democratic forces resulted in a positive move that produced the election of June of that year. In the annals of history of election in Nigeria, the conduct of the election of June 1993, was the best ever in all ramifications. The election produced M.K.O. Abiola as the elected president. Unfortunately, the military government of that period annulled the result of the election. That action of the military government in power as at time produced violent reaction from the populace because the entire nation was angered by the annulment. Amidst countrywide protest over the annulment of the election, the military still carried on administering the government. From that period feelings of indignation among Nigerians were heightened. In effect a particular section of the country believed that, the election of June 1993, epitomises the day Nigerians democratically elected a President of Nigeria and therefore if any day is to be termed 'Democracy Day' in Nigeria, it must be June 23, 1993. Given the foregoing, May 29 is not being observed as a public holiday in some states of the federation of Nigeria. The effect of this is that while the Federal Government observe May 29 as the Democracy Day, few states in Nigeria maintain June 23 as their Democracy Day. A huge political gulf that borders on the ridiculous had emerged. Should it be left unattended to' No, it shouldn't be left unattended to. Rather, the Federal Government and those state governments that are aggrieved must meet and find solution to the impasse to allow the 'Democracy Day' to attain the desired objective, which is to recognise the efforts of men and women - dead or alive that had contributed their efforts at bringing about democratic governance in Nigeria How could this be accomplished' If we don't attend to the political gulf that has been created, what will be the effect on the nation' It's no more of the effect on the nation but rather on how such effect on the nation may not persist because right now, the nation, though facing front is moving backward. The current state of the nation glaringly confirms this and it's starring all of us in the face. Don't we all observe this' All progressive Nigerians don't like it, and frown on it. The cry against it is in the air all around us. What shall we do to correct the unwanted situation' One, I believe that former President Olusegun Obasanjo didn't consider the wishes, feelings and interest of Nigerians before declaring May 29 of each year 'Democracy Day'. I, therefore, submit that the Government should allow Nigerians to decide which date - May 29 or June 23 of each year should be 'Democracy Day'. Again, I believe that the only corrective action will require the combined efforts of non-politicians as well as those of politicians to decide on what the nation wants. While non-politician decides what the nation wants, politicians will put such desire into the machinery of governance and carry it into effect. The reason for this is that politicians are there to effect the desire of the nation, which according to the principle of democracy, is represented by non-politicians. To represent non-politicians are the following categories of Nigerians - ordinary men and women, traders, businessmen and women, students, academics, civil society organisations and media organisations and so on. The politicians are what they are - All state Houses of Representatives and the local government and the National Assembly. Finally, I want to admit that this writing is brief and simple but I want to draw an equally but simple conclusion from it. And that is, 'little things always have great effect.' A simple or small thing shouldn't be underestimated. Remember an atom and its energy' What I mean is, let's simply but critically think about 'Democracy Day' for Nigeria as an important and urgent National issue and allow it to have the desired effect that is capable of i.e. uniting the country. 'A stitch in time', the adage says, 'saves nine.'Arimoro wrote in from Lagos.
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