Democracy is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation, or to choose governing officials to do so. Ever since the British Colonial Masters left Nigeria to practice Democracy, Nigeria has not been stable since then with the war here and there from different ethnic groups striving to be the head, corruption at its highest level and so on. This post will proffer a solution to "What is the history of democracy in Nigeria?" as well as provide answers to questions like: when is democracy day in Nigeria? When did democracy start in Nigeria? What is history of democracy? When did democracy begin? What type of democracy does Nigeria have?
The whole saga started when the election of MKO Abiola was annulled. Nigeria commemorated the restoration of democracy was May 29 which now is held June 12. June 12 carries huge significance for older Nigerians. It was on this date 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. Come 12 June 1993, he tried for the presidency again. Despite his popularity, and the turnout, the elections stalled. 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.
Democracy Day marks the day the military handed over power to an elected civilian government in 1999, marking the beginning of the longest continuous civilian rule since Nigeria's independence from colonial rule in 1960. It is a tradition that has been held annually, beginning in year 2000.
The term democracy first appeared in ancient Greek political and philosophical thought in the city-state of Athens during classical antiquity. Under Cleisthenes, what is generally held as the first example of a type of democracy in 508–507 BC was established in Athens.
Nigerian politics takes place within a framework of a federal, presidential, representative democratic republic, in which executive power is exercised by the government.
Tributes to all the past fallen heroes of Nigeria who stood and fought to make sure that Nigerian gained independence and also to our present leaders; they should try and complement the legacies which the past leaders have set and build on it in order to attain greater heights years to come.