The Federal Government has unveiled activities for the celebration of this year’s Democracy Day.
Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Segun Imohiosen, announced this in a statement on Thursday.
The day, June 12 of every year, is set aside for the celebration of Democracy in commemoration of the outstanding June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, which was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, MKO.
The election, Nigeria’s freest and fairest ever, was annulled by the military government headed by Gen Ibrahim Babangida, an action which spontaneously sparked off prolonged bloody nationwide pro-democracy protests, in which many activists including Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, were assassinated, believably by state agents.
Besides, properties belonging to the activists were bombed, while many others were wounded. Several others including President Bola Tinubu, Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Gen Alani Akinrinade, Dan Suleiman, and many other activists, fled into exile through the ‘NADECO route’.
Abiola, the symbol of June 12, was arrested and detained by the regime of the departed Gen Sani Abacha, who succeeded Babangida, for declaring himself President at the famous Epetedo, Lagos Declaration.
He later died in controversial circumstances, during a meeting with some foreign country’s representatives, while still in military custody, after years of detention, often in solitary confinement.
That fatal meeting was arranged by the regime of Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, who succeeded Abacha, and who eventually handed over power to a democratically elected civilian government headed by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.
Activities lined up for this year’s Democracy Day celebration, according to the statement, are:
– World Press Briefing on Friday, 6th June, 2025;
– Special Juma’at Service on Friday, 6th June, 2025;
– Church Service on Sunday 8th June, 2025;
– Youth Programme to be held on Tuesday, 9th June, 2025,
-Public Lecture, Wednesday, 11th June 2025; and
– Presidential Broadcast alongside Parade on Thursday, 12th June, 2025.
Government has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to plan the 2025 Democracy Day celebration.
It is headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume.
Imohiosen said that Akume was represented at the inauguration by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
The minister reportedly stated that Democracy Day is not only a time of remembrance but also an opportunity for the government to present its achievements to the Nigerian people and reaffirm its commitment to democratic ideals.
Bagudu urged members of the committee to work in synergy with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Other members of the committee, according to the statement, include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike; and Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
They include the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
Others are Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya; Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, OSGF, Dr. Nnamdi Mbaeri; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kachollom Daju; and Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office (OSGF), Engr. Nadungu Gagare, who will serve as Member/Secretary.
