Democracy day today, Sunday, June 12 is supposed to be the celebration of the Democracy Day declared by the federal government, but it will be marked tomorrow, Monday, June 13 because today is Sunday which is normally a free work day.

I’m not sure what particular way the Day will be marked by the federal or state governments or any other organization that today would not have been suitable for, but typically, because of our love for free work days, most Nigerians, especially civil servants are glad to have the holiday like for other major Days and celebrations that falls on weekends.

Most Nigerians will go about their usual business tomorrow, except for government and other private offices and institutions that will be closed in compliance with the public holiday. Many sure don’t know what the Day is all about and don’t care. They are more concerned about their daily survival which cannot be assured by staying off work for one celebration or the other.

There are economic implications for every unnecessary extra work free and it will be better if Days like the Democracy Day, which is more for sober reflections as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola noted while announcing the public holiday are marked on whatever days they fall.

Undoubtedly, declaring June 12 as a public holiday in recognition of the significance of the day in our political history is commendable. The Day reminds us of the sacrifices many, especially Late Chief MKO Abiola, the undeclared winner of the June 1993 Presidential elections and others made to get us this far in our democratic journey and the need to guard it jealously.

Democracy Day was earlier marked on May 29 to commemorate the handing over of power to an elected civilian government in 1999.

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The military did not easily restore democracy in the country. They tried hard to hold on to power at all costs, but for the determination of Nigerians to insist their time was up.

Many like Abiola and other Nigerians died in the struggle, while some were jailed.

Contrary to their claims of taking over government from civilian administrations to improve on the lots of Nigerians, successive military regimes were not better. Our abundant resources were mismanaged and our country became a laughing stock in the international community where democratic norms were the order of the day.

While the return to civil rule since 1999 has not provided all the expected dividends and we wish our leaders can do better in many ways at all levels, it is important that we cherish the democratic dispensation we have and keep improving on it.

We all have a role to play to ensure that the government we have is indeed the government of the people, by the people and for the people as democracy is defined. We all have civic obligations to perform either as citizens, voters, party members, elected officials and in any other arms of the ‘ estate of the realm’ we belong.

As citizens, we must know and insists on our democratic rights in accordance with the constitution of the country and demand accountability by public office holders. We should be interested and belong to political parties and ensure they are properly run, instead of leaving the task to professional politicians.

As voters, we must vote for the right and capable persons to guarantee good governance. Our votes must count instead of staying back home on election days.

The percentage of registered voters in our population and actual voters in elections to registered voters have always been very low due to a lack of appreciation of the role everyone has to play in making democracy work for us.

Elected officials at all levels must honour their electoral promises and not take the people for granted. There must be respect for the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial arms to guarantee check and balance.

I agree with the minister that as we mark another Democracy Day, we should reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains one united, secured, peaceful and indivisible entity because no development can take place in an acrimonious environment.