Democracy Day: I declared June 12 as a work free-day as governor in 2004

Senator Engr. Olugbenga Daniel, the former governor of Ogun State and incumbent lawmaker representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, disclosed that he initiated the recognition of June 12, now recognised Democracy Day, as a work-free day as far back as 2004.

This significant declaration, made during an exclusive interview on TVCNews to mark Democracy Day, sheds new light on the historical evolution leading to the official acknowledgment of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

Reflecting on the enduring significance of June 12, Senator Daniel emphasized its pivotal role in the nation’s democratic journey.

Also read: [JUST IN] Democracy Day: FG declares Wednesday public holiday

Despite not possessing the authority to proclaim a public holiday during his tenure as governor, he took a bold step to designate June 12 as a day free from official work obligations within Ogun State.

This proactive stance reinforces his commitment to commemorating the sacrifices of late Chief Moshood Abiola and countless pro-democracy activists who fought relentlessly for democratic ideals.

Addressing the question of whether the 2018 declaration by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration provided closure for the struggles endured by Chief Abiola and other democracy advocates, Senator Daniel acknowledged the multifaceted perspectives surrounding Nigeria’s democratic narrative.

He stressed the diverse interpretations offered by different stakeholders, ranging from esteemed war generals like former President Obasanjo to progressive voices epitomised by leaders like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“One of the things I did when I was governor is to declare June 12 as a work-free day in Ogun State because I didn’t have the right to declare a public holiday. That was in 2004.

“And like I said, the process is an evolution; everybody has his own idea about how we got here. If you ask the war generals; the likes of former President Obasanjo, they would have their own ideas (of how we got here).

“Now, if you come to the people we call the progressives which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents, for instance. They have their own idea; they got here by way of struggle. They have a clear-cut idea of what is important to them, and so what you see playing out now is just a result of that.

“Between May 29 when the military handed over power to the civilians and June 12 when people lost their lives for the struggle, which one is more important? For me, I think slowly, gradually we get into closure. But it is appropriate that June 12 is indeed Democracy Day,” Ogidi Omo, as the former governor is fondly called, remarked.