As we mark Democracy Day, June 12 is not just a date on the calendar, but rather it is a reminder of both our struggles and hopes. It marks a day when Nigerians made a powerful democratic choice, one that was silenced but never forgotten. More than anything, June 12 is a call to reflect on what freedom truly means in our context, not just the freedom to vote, but the freedom to live, speak, create, and dream without fear.
For me, June 12 speaks to the power of expression, the quiet strength in a writer’s pen, the courage in a citizen’s voice, the dignity of a people who continue to demand more from their democracy. Real democracy goes beyond ballots. It lives in how much space people have to exist freely and meaningfully, without their rights hanging on the mood of power.
Individual liberty, at its core, is the right of each person to think, speak, act, and shape their life without unnecessary interference. It is not a foreign concept but it is deeply African too. Many of our indigenous systems were built on participation, mutual respect, and accountability. Colonialism disrupted that, and today, some of those old chains still linger in cronyism, unequal justice, and voices that are ignored unless they benefit power.
As Friedrich Hayek (1960) once put it, liberty thrives where laws are clear, power is limited, and justice doesn’t depend on status. Likewise, John Stuart Mill (1859) believed liberty is what allows people to become fully human, to grow, question, and contribute. That should be the heartbeat of our democracy.
But liberty is not just about law and politics. It is also about culture and economy. In Nigeria, values like tolerance, communal support, and diversity make liberty meaningful. We do not need to erase our differences rather we need to embrace them in ways that protect dignity and reduce corruption.
And let’s not forget the economic side. Milton Friedman (1962) argued that economic freedom is essential for political freedom. When people can own, build, and innovate without political interference or gatekeeping, entire communities rise. Jobs are created, peace becomes possible, and people begin to believe in the country they live in.
Still, liberty without equity can become privilege. If our markets only work for the rich, or our systems only protect the powerful, then liberty becomes hollow. A free society must balance rights with fairness, ensuring that opportunity is not reserved for the few, but open to all.
So, as we remember June 12, let’s carry its spirit forward and not just in speeches, but in daily action. Let’s imagine and make a Nigeria where liberty is real, where freedom is felt, and where democracy is lived beyond elections.
Because June 12 was not just about the vote. It was and still is about voice, dignity, and the never-ending promise of a better Nigeria.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the organisation TheRadar.
June 12: Nigeria's democracy has female heroes too, here are some of them
Earlier, TheRadar reported the contributions of other women whose efforts should not be forgotten.
Some of other female heroes of democracy include Ayo Obe, Josephine Okei-Odumakin and the famous Kudirat Abiola.
