June 12: Nigeria’s annual ritual of glorifying a sham ‘democracy’, by Olu Fasan

The designation of June 12 as Nigeria's Democracy Day by President Muhammadu Buhari is framed as a politically calculated move rather than one rooted in genuine conviction. The author contends that Buhari's past actions and statements prior to his 2015 presidency did not reflect any prior opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

According to the piece, Buhari's shift in stance occurred in 2018, as he prepared for his re-election campaign the following year. This timing suggests the decision was strategically made to garner political support rather than stemming from a principled stance on democratic principles.

The article posits that Nigeria's annual commemoration of June 12 has become a ritualistic act that serves to legitimize what it describes as a "sham democracy." The author implies that the current celebration overlooks the historical context and the true meaning of democratic governance in the country.