June 12 is a special day in the political history of the country. It is dedicated to celebrate a watershed; June 12, 1993 when the freest and fairest election held in Nigeria. It is more of a milestone and a defining moment in the political worldview of Nigerians. June 12, was before 2018 celebrated as a public holiday with activities, only in few states in the south west but from that year, it became a national holiday, with a parade at the Eagle Square.

Chief MKO Abiola casting his vote on June 12, 1993

President Muhammadu Buhari consistently inspected the Guard of Honour during the June 12 Democracy Day Parade which held at the Eagles Square in Abuja. The parade is an annual exercise held in honour of the nation’s return to civil rule and to remember Nigeria’s heroes of democracy. In 2018, the government of General Buhari moved democracy day from May 29th to June 12, to remind Nigerians of the election of June 12, 1993, which was adjudged the fairest and freest in Nigeria’s history, yet annulled by the military junta head, General Ibrahim Babaginda.

Chief MKO Abiola on a visit to General Sani Abacha to retrieve his mandate with President Tinubu in the background.

But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inspected the Guard of Honour inside the presidential villa on Monday, June 12, 2023, and no reasons were given for this. The Eagle square as empty as pauper’s purse; no souls found around there and devoid of the usual retinue of security men of the armed forces. All attention and activities moved to the presidential villa, the abode and office of the President. That did not in anyway diminish the significance.

President Tinubu inspecting the Guard of Honour at the Presidential villa on June 12, 2023

Everything about this year’s celebration was on the upbeat, it was like a rebirth of the June 12 democracy day celebration despite that this is the sixth edition of it. It could be another renewed hope experience since the campaign slogan of Chief Abiola was “Hope 93”. This is not surprising because one of active players who fought for the de-annulment of the election, is now behind the steering wheel of the nation’s truck. The current occupier of the Presidential villa, Aso Rock was a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the pro-democracy group that championed the realization of June 12. A lot of the regular politicians and not too regular Nigerians visited the Presidential villa to join in the celebration.

The celebration of the Democracy Day on the eve of the inauguration of the National Assembly made activities in the city center to be hyper active. A lot of the drivers who brought the new political actors, legislatures are not familiar with Abuja roads thus creating traffic hold ups and unnecessarily trying to beat the traffic lights. Unaware that new types of traffic lights that would capture offenders on camera have just been installed.

It is one unusual celebration that happens once in four years. Though there will be June 12 celebration every year, proclamation of the National Assembly happens only once in a year. And, because there was a new Sheriff in town, Abuja became a hub for many happenings known to the public and also unknown. It is the first celebration by a former June 12, advocate.

The new members of the National Assembly, elected since February, are anxious to take their seats in the hallowed chambers. About 70 percent of them are new comers and cannot wait to be sworn in and drop the garb of member-elect or Senator-elect, persons called “Johny Just come” (JJC) in local parlance. They have thronged Abuja with hordes of their families and supporters, who have come to witness the historic event. Though protocols will permit only one guest per legislator, a lot of them will watch through their television sets and join the post swearing-in receptions. The old legislators are also playing hosts to their incoming replacements and constituents.

It was a good market day for hotels in Abuja. The two biggest hotels in Abuja, Abuja Continental Hotel and Transcorp Hilton Abuja were bursting at the seams. The hotels are the official hotels where federal government guests are normally accommodated.

Many of the hotels were booked to the brim, with reservations made well ahead of yesterday’s arrival. A guest, Mr. Kehinde Pratt, from Lagos told the NDR how he had travelled round the length and breadth of the federal capital territory in search of accommodation. “I have been to 22 hotels in the last three hours looking for a good hotel to lodge”. It was some minutes after 8:00 pm that his search ended and found a place good enough to stay.

The eateries were bursting with guests, standing on long queues to be attended to. The more traditional bukateria, roadside restaurants, whose prices are lower and offering more traditional foods were favourite spots for those who wanted to have a taste of home pudding.

Some major bank networks malfunctioned in the afternoon hours, and transfers were not going easily, maybe buckling under pressure from massive usage at the same time, maybe for other glitches.

It was a memorable day for many, especially those who were visiting Abuja for the first. The city is truly a beauty to behold whether in daylight or in the night. But the city is not a stranger to hosting large crowds which happens not too frequently but good enough to keep a good business running and making profits and June 12, 2023 would go down in history as one of such days.

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