By Okechukwu Nwanguma
Each year, as Nigeria marks June 12 — Democracy Day, citizens are invited to reflect on the hard-fought battles that brought us to this point. It is a day steeped in the memory of sacrifice: of Chief MKO Abiola, whose electoral victory in 1993 was cruelly annulled by the military; of activists like Chima Ubani, Emma Ezeazu, Kudirat Abiola, and many others who gave their all — even their lives — in the struggle for freedom and popular rule.
Some argue that we have reason to celebrate. After all, Nigeria has enjoyed 26 consecutive years of civilian rule, the longest in its history, following decades punctuated by military coups. In a country once gripped by khaki-and-boot governance, this is no small feat.
But is the absence of military rule the same as the presence of democracy?
This question is not rhetorical — it is urgent.
When civilians in power violate the Constitution, subvert the rule of law, and manipulate the judiciary, the legislature, and the electoral commission, are we truly in a democracy? When elections are marred by irregularities, violence, and outright rigging, and their outcomes no longer reflect the popular will, what exactly are we celebrating?
We must be honest: democracy is not just about elections. It is about accountability, transparency, popular participation, and the rule of law. Civilian rule becomes meaningless if it is only a change of costume, with democratic institutions hollowed out and democratic principles routinely flouted.
Many of today’s political leaders rule like yesterday’s dictators — only now they wear agbada instead of army fatigues. They silence dissent, weaponise security agencies, bribe lawmakers, and turn public institutions into personal estates. They do this not in secret, but in full view, while we, the people, are often numbed by fatigue, fear, or indifference.
But the survival and growth of democracy cannot be left to politicians alone. The citizens must understand that they are not passive observers but active stakeholders. Democracy does not end at the ballot box. It demands constant vigilance, civic education, engagement, protest, and holding leaders to account every step of the way.
If we want a democracy worth celebrating, we must build it.
We must insist on electoral reforms that ensure transparency and credibility. We must demand independence for the judiciary, protection for whistleblowers, and punishment for corruption. We must mobilise at the community level, empower civil society, defend press freedom, and never surrender our rights out of despair or convenience.
June 12 should not become a ritual of hollow speeches and symbolic ceremonies. It must remain a living call to action, a reminder that democracy is not given — it is fought for, protected, and deepened, day by day, by the people.
So, yes — 26 years of civilian rule is a milestone. But democracy is not merely the absence of military men in power. It is the presence of justice, rights, truth, and power that truly belongs to the people.
If we do not have that, then June 12 is not yet fulfilled — and our work is not yet done.
Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma is a human rights activist in Nigeria and the Executive Director of RULAAC.
