Oladele’s Role in Entrenching June 12 as Democracy Day
As Nigeria commemorates Democracy Day, attention has once again been drawn to the contributions of former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kayode Oladele, whose legislative and pro-democracy credentials remain closely associated with the June 12 struggle.
Oladele, who represented Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency of Ogun State in the House of Representatives, co-sponsored the Public Holidays Act (Amendment) Bill that officially changed Nigeria’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12. The landmark legislation was jointly sponsored with Hon. Edward Pwajok of Plateau State.
While former President Muhammadu Buhari had, in 2018, declared June 12 as Democracy Day in honour of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, the declaration required legislative backing to become a permanent part of Nigeria’s laws. Oladele and Pwajok consequently sponsored the amendment bill that sought to replace May 29 with June 12 in the Public Holidays Act.
The House of Representatives passed the bill in 2018, while the Senate concurred in May 2019. President Buhari subsequently assented to the legislation in June 2019, making June 12 Nigeria’s official Democracy Day and removing May 29 as a national public holiday.
Beyond sponsoring the legislation, Oladele was actively involved in the struggle to restore democratic governance in Nigeria. As a member of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) and the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), he played significant roles in the pro-democracy movement that resisted military rule and campaigned for the validation of the June 12, 1993 mandate and the eventual return of the country to civil rule.
Political observers note that Oladele’s involvement in both the democratic struggle and the subsequent legislative process that institutionalized June 12 as Democracy Day represents a unique contribution to Nigeria’s democratic evolution. For many Nigerians, the amendment not only honours the sacrifices of Chief Abiola and other democracy activists but also preserves the legacy of those who fought tirelessly for the restoration of constitutional governance in the country.
