Fuse Democracy Day, handing-over day into Oct. 1, Sarah Jibrin tells FG

Former chairman of the Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP), Dr Sarah Jibrin, has called for the fusion of new Democracy Day and handing-over ceremony with independence anniversary programme every year.

Nigeria’s Independence anniversary is celebrated on October 1, and May 29, which was the day democratic government was inaugurated in the country.

But, on June 6, President Muhammadu Buhari announced the recognition of June 12 as new Democracy Day in commemoration of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election, believed to have been won by late Chief MKO Abiola.

Jibrin told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, in Abuja that June 12 as new democracy day in place of May 29, which had become handing-over day, amounted to proliferation of public holidays.

On whether her political party might reverse the declaration of June 12 as democracy day if elected in 2019, she said: “First of all, June 12 is another chapter.

‘It was during the military era that they brought about May 29 as Democracy Day.

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“Did we not say that the labour of our hero past shall not be in vain? What was the significance of May 29 to Nigeria?

“For our elders not to pay attention to the positive initiatives and the observation of the young people is unfortunate.

“What is the meaning of democracy day? If it is going to be democracy day, it should be something around October 1, the handing over of power to this country by the colonial masters.

According to her, the increase in holidays was affecting the country’s economy.

Jibrin, who served as Special Adviser on Ethics and Values to former President Goodluck Jonathan, said change of democracy day to June 12 was the same way history was removed as a subject from school curriculum.