Yesterday was June 12. In Nigeria, it is Democracy Day (DD)… at least since 2019. Prior to this, DD was marked on May 29.
I don’t think I ever understood the essence of a DD. Frankly, I was quite uninterested in Government (a course) when I was in secondary school. So, many of the things taught never stuck. For example, what in the world do oligarchy and fascism even mean? To be clear, my disinterest in government ended a long time ago. While this is so, I am still working towards updating my knowledge on political terms.
This quest is particularly essential at this time. Nigeria has an election in 2023 it looks like everyone’s spirit of patriotism has collectively awoken. What are the causes of this long-awaited revival? I’ll tell you. Pain, suffering, desperation, and anger. Most important is the need for hope. This is why a particular candidate stands out amongst many. I am not here to campaign for anyone… yet. I need to understand the presidential candidates (the ones worth listening to) and determine who is my optimal candidate based on my research. I want my vote to mean something. In the meantime, I am certainly tilting heavily towards someone very popular with my fellow Nigerian youth, who are ready to uproot our country from the rut it is in.
Democracy Day is celebrated in many countries across the world.