Should June 12 be the new handover date?
Since the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government announced June 12 as the new Democracy Day, there has been speculations and outright requests by some kinsmen of late MKO Abiola for it to be made handover day. Daily Trust got opinions from some Nigerians. Sambo Nurudeen Midala, 27, Nurse, Bauchi I believe democracy should be uplifted. Our […]
Since the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government announced June 12 as the new Democracy Day, there has been speculations and outright requests by some kinsmen of late MKO Abiola for it to be made handover day. Daily Trust got opinions from some Nigerians.
Sambo Nurudeen Midala, 27, Nurse, Bauchi
I believe democracy should be uplifted. Our heroes’ past should be given the honour they truly deserve, but it shouldn’t be politicized. It should be an honourable process because right now, this is a move to win over the Yorubas in the 2019 elections. So, whichever day they choose to use as the handover date makes no difference.
Abubakar Jimoh, 32, CISLAC, Abuja
It is pertinent to acknowledge some Nigerians’ struggles towards achieving true democracy in the country. Choosing June 12 as a new handover date may, to an extent, may enhance the present democracy. The nation can as well, through the new date, recount and appreciate democratic gains and losses giving cognisance to the vital roles of civil society groups in ensuring electoral credibility in the country.
Abdu Bulama, 41, Civil Servant, Maiduguri
The June 12 elections were free and fair. It was one of the elections where the entire country seemed to have one voice. Just like Buhari’s win, there was the same intensity and joy. I am from Borno State so I can remember vividly how we voted MKO Abiola during that time. June 12 as new handover date will be a good move made, because since it was truncated, it has never ceased to vanish from the pages of newspapers. So, I think it’s a very positive thing. It will give Nigeria good standing, from within and outside the country. It will show that at least we have recognized and identified our mistakes and that has been corrected by a man who has passion for this country.
Shamsudeen Yusuf, 34, Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja
That would have a lot of constitutional implication. The constitution provides that a president or governor shouldn’t spend more than four years. If that is the situation, it means that on every May 29, power should move from one hand to the other. I am a lawyer, I am not too sure if there’s any constitution that allows for a situation where, if the person is re-elected and he is spending eight years, the person will spend more than those eight years in power. That will definitely be a breach of the constitution. I think we should just have June 12 as a day for the celebration of Democracy Day, unless there is any amendment that allows it to be recognized.
Ishaya Bulus, 33, Biologist, Abuja
I don’t think it should become handover day. June 12 is the when Abiola won election, but there is no reason why it should be made the new Democracy Day or the new handover date. I think we should just stick to May 29.
Melody Yoila, Artist, Plateau State
Firstly, it is good that the president recognized and honoured MKO, but I feel it’s also a form of manipulation by the APC to buy time in order to do things that have been set in their personal agenda. Believe it or not, politics is a game of the cunning and that is what is taking place here. So, left to me, the date should be left as the former.