“History is information. Memory is part of our identity.”— David Miliband
“If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past.” — Baruch Spinoza
Today In History
1. Nigerians Voted Olusegun Obasanjo As President
On this day in 1999, in the first election since the 1993 anulled election, Nigerians voted in Olusegun Obasanjo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as a democratic president. He defeated Olu Falae, who was running on a joint Alliance for Democracy-All People’s Party ticket.
2. Nigerian Government Deported Foreigners Suspected To Be Boko Haram
On this day in 2012, about 11,000 foreigners mainly from Niger and Chad were deported by the federal government of Nigeria in order to curb the growing dominance of the Boko Haram insurgent group.
3. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Was Proclaimed By The Polisario Front
On this day in 1976, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) was proclaimed by the Polisario Front. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is also known as the Sahrawi Republic and Western Sahara.
The SADR government calls the territories under its control the Liberated Territories or the Free Zone while Morocco controls and administers the rest of the disputed territory, and calls these lands its Southern Provinces.
4. Kuwait Became A Free State
On this day in 1991, in the aftermath of the gulf war, State of Kuwait resumed self-governance over all Kuwaiti sovereign territory following the U.S. President George H. W. Bush’s announcement that “Kuwait is liberated.”
5. MV SuperFerry 14 Attack In Phillipines
On this day in 2004, MV SuperFerry 14, a registered roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ferry was attacked by a terrorist group known as Abu Sayyaf.
The attack which was regarded as Phillipines’ deadliest attack resulted in the destruction of the ferry and the deaths of 116 people.
6. Menznau Shooting In Switzerland
On this day in 2013, a gunman, identified as Viktor Berisha opened fire at the Kronospan wood-processing plant in Menznau, Switzerland. Five people including the shooter died, while five others were injured in the shooting.
