Every June 12 now feels like a huge reminder of what democracy means in Nigeria! On Democracy Day, the president gives a speech on TV, and honestly, my parents always make me sit with them to watch it. It’s always this big talk about what the government’s done in the past year, and they usually mention stuff like security or the economy. Sometimes there are parades from the military with their fancy uniforms and even some aerial shows (the flyovers are by far my favorite part).

In Abuja, the capital, they often do these giant ceremonies at Eagle Square – politicians everywhere, loud music, flags, and a whole lot of excitement. But some years, it’s more quiet, especially if there’s tension or security issues, so stuff might just happen at the president’s house or on TV. Oh, and some states do their own thing, especially in the southwest where Abiola was from. I remember seeing tons of posts online of people sharing stories about 1993 and why it matters. Honestly, it’s like Nigeria’s version of the Fourth of July, but with way more politics in the mix!