For the fourth time in a row, the Independence Day celebration was held by the presidency within the confines of presidential villa, Aso Rock. The last time the celebration was held in public was in 2010 when two car bombs planted by members of the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta exploded and killed about 20 people near the Eagle Square venue of the event.
President Goodluck Jonathan, joined by former Heads of State, leadership of the National Assembly, the judiciary and top government officials, on Wednesday, shelved pageantry and held a brief ceremony to mark Nigeria’s 54th Independence at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa.
The Wednesday programme was strictly a military event conducted by two battalions of the Presidential Guards Brigade — the 177 Battalion based in Keffi and the Seventh Guards Battalion, Abuja.
The 177 Guards Battalion based in Keffi provided the new guards that would be saddled with the responsibility of protecting the President, his family and other residents of the Villa.
The event, which started with Jonathan’s arrival at about 10 am, lasted for about one-and-a-half hours.
It featured the inspection of new guards/quarter guards, silent drill, posting of sentries/colour patrol and echelon reporting of parade, among other military manoeuvring.
At the end of the parade, Jonathan, who was flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo and service chiefs as well as the Inspector-General of Police signed the independence anniversary register and released pigeons to signify peace.
Other dignitaries at the event included President of the Senate, David Mark; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.); and ex-Head, Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.
Others were former Vice President Alex Ekwueme; former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd.); members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, members of the Diplomatic Corps and other top government officials.
Mr. Gowon, who spoke with journalists, said Nigerians must work to make the country great.
“I believe in Nigeria, I love Nigeria and we all must work for Nigeria, the government and the opposition in order to make Nigeria great. That is my wish. Nigeria will survive beyond 2015,” Mr.Gowon said.
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