June 12: Beyond the ritual

I t has been six years since Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s President was cajoled into elevating June 12 to the level of Nigeria’s Democracy Day. Before then, it was a mere pastime for pretenders to the throne of democracy to regurgitate jaded sweet nothings about June 12. They would tell you that it was a day like no other. That it was the day Nigeria actually attained the status of a democratic country. Until then, Nigeria was just a quasi-military arrangement.
And so, in order to continue to pretend that they cherish democratic ideals, they got Buhari to sign into law the Public Holiday Act Amendment Bill. With that presidential action, June 12 became officially recognized as Democra...