The Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Comrade Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, has lamented what he described as the erosion of the ideals of the June 12 struggle.
In a statement issued on Thursday to mark Democracy Day, Zikirullahi said June 12, which commemorates the annulled 1993 presidential election won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, remains a powerful symbol of democratic struggle and sacrifice that has yet to be fully realised.
According to him, the annulment of the election was “a violent betrayal of the Nigerian people” and not merely the denial of one man’s mandate. He said Democracy Day has been reduced to “a spectacle of state-sponsored pageantry” rather than a platform for advancing democratic governance and citizens’ welfare.
“June 12 has been reduced to a spectacle of state-sponsored pageantry. Lavish budgets are approved for hollow ceremonies, official speeches, and empty rhetoric that bear no resemblance to the lived realities of citizens,” he said.
“Pro-democracy activists were hunted, jailed, exiled, and silenced. Abiola himself died in the custody of the same forces that stole his victory. Yet the ideals he championed—goodbye to poverty, an end to corruption, and a life of dignity for every Nigerian—refused to die,” he added.
The CHRICED boss argued that those aspirations remain largely unrealised despite Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
“While the administration of the late Muhammadu Buhari formally declared June 12 as Democracy Day, the symbolic gesture has not been matched with the political courage or policy commitment required to advance the values June 12 represents,” he stated.
Zikirullahi accused political leaders of turning Democracy Day into an annual celebration disconnected from the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
He added, “The day has become an annual ritual of self-congratulation for unprincipled politicians and their minions, even as hunger, poverty, insecurity, joblessness, and inflation tighten their grip on millions of Nigerians.”
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According to him, the current state of affairs falls far short of the democratic vision for which many Nigerians made significant sacrifices. “This is not the democracy Nigerians fought for. This is not the democracy June 12 promised,” he declared.
The CHRICED Executive Director stressed that Democracy Day should serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by citizens in pursuit of justice, accountability, and human rights.
“For CHRICED, June 12 is not a festival of government propaganda. It is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by ordinary citizens who risked everything for a Nigeria governed by justice, accountability, and respect for human rights,” he said.
He further called on governments at all levels to ensure that democracy delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
“As we mark June 12, 2026, we insist that democracy must mean more than ceremonies and speeches. It must translate into policies that uplift the poor, protect the vulnerable, secure communities, and restore dignity to the Nigerian people. Anything less is a mockery of the struggles that brought us here,” Zikirullahi stated.
The rights advocate also outlined a number of reforms he said were necessary to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the demands, he urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to overhaul its voter registration infrastructure, address recurring technical failures, improve access for underserved communities, and publish clear timelines for electoral activities.
He also called on the judiciary to handle electoral disputes with greater transparency and independence.
“Justice delayed in electoral matters is not merely justice denied—it is democracy undermined,” he said.
Zikirullahi further urged elected officials to focus on inflation control, job creation, security, and the provision of basic services, while challenging political parties to move beyond personality-driven politics and present clear policy alternatives to voters.
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He equally advocated stronger civic participation beyond election periods, insisting that democracy should not be limited to voting every four years.
“Democracy is a daily practice, not a quadrennial event. Citizens must be supported and encouraged to participate in governance through civic education, public hearings, budget oversight, and community accountability mechanisms,” he added.
Summing up CHRICED’s position, the Executive Director said, “Democracy is not a date on the calendar. It is a duty. It is a promise. And it is long overdue.”