There is no force more powerful than a people determined to be free. Today, as Nigerians mark Democracy Day 2025, we celebrate the triumph and persistence of a people and the unfolding story of democracy as an African achievement.
June 12 was once a date of denial and betrayal, but it has been reclaimed as a national symbol of renewal, proof that the arc of history, however winding, bends toward justice when steered by determined hands.
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Contrary to long-standing narratives that depict democracy as an alien transplant on African soil, Nigeria’s experience proves that the hunger for freedom, justice, and accountability is not borrowed; it is indigenous. According to a 2022 Afrobarometer survey conducted in partnership with NOI Polls and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, 70% of Nigerians consider democracy preferable to any other government, even as 63% believe the country remains “a democracy with major problems”, and a striking 77% are dissatisfied with how democracy works.
From the egalitarian political structures of the Igbo village assembly to the consultative traditions of Yoruba kingship, Nigerian societies have long practised participatory governance. Nigeria’s modern democracy, though forged in struggle, builds on this rich heritage.
A resurrected legacy.
Yes, Nigeria’s democracy faces challenges: electoral disputes, elite impunity, and uneven governance remain stubborn obstacles. But these are not signs of failure; they are the growing pains of a maturing system. Unlike past eras of authoritarianism, today’s Nigeria is one where ideas contest openly, where citizens organise boldly, and where the people, not the gun, are the final arbiters of power.
That citizens across the country now demand transparency, insist on credible elections, and hold their leaders to account—even through memes and satire—is proof of the strength of democratic culture taking root.
The most compelling development in Nigeria’s democratic journey is the rise of a digitally empowered, politically conscious youth generation. Young Nigerians at home and in diaspora are shaping a new civic identity; bold, unafraid, Pan-African in orientation.
We must also acknowledge the growing number of leaders, men and women, who see governance as a responsibility. From grassroots innovation in Kaduna to technocratic reforms in Lagos and Abuja, examples abound of responsive leadership across Nigeria and beyond.
The African continent is full of stories of change-makers: community organisers, start-up founders, ethical politicians, and civic educators who are anchoring a new vision for public life. Nigeria, with its population, potential, and plurality, is at the centre of this continental renaissance.
We recognise the road is long, but we also affirm: Nigeria is on the move. Our democracy is becoming deeper, more inclusive, and more indigenous with each passing year. As we celebrate this Democracy Day, let us do so with pride, not in perfection, but in progress. Because when our nation leads itself, democracy finds its truest expression.
