The Federal Government has declared Monday, June 14 as a public holiday to mark this year’s Democracy Day celebration.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, according to a statement issued by the Ministry.
Aregbesola congratulated Nigerians on the occasion, with a request to the citizens to support the government’s efforts to ensure a united and prosperous Nation.
A statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore quoted Aregbesola as saying that “any form of agitation that threatens the unity of the country should be shunned for the good of all”.
Before the announcement, some Nigerians were said to be planning to hold a protest on Saturday, June 12, the day when the Democracy Day celebration was scheduled to hold, against the level of insecurity in the country.
In 2018, the Buhari administration announced June 12 as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day, to honour Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 1993 election that was later cancelled by the military government.
Before, Nigerians marked Democracy Day on May 29, the day that democratic rule returned to the country in 1999, after years of military dictatorship.
Aregbesola said that the land space called Nigeria would once again enjoy peace, unity and progress, if all love his or her neighbour and embrace the spirit of brotherliness.
“As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains one United and Indivisible Entity. No development can take place in an acrimonious environment,” he stressed.
“With the challenges we face in Nigeria today, I see an opportunity for us not to break up or break down but to break open; open up to ourselves in truth so that we may appreciate each other, understand each other, honour each other and live together in peace and prosperity,” the Minister said.
