By BASHIR ADEFAKA
In apparent acknowledgement of a worthy celebration, this year’s Independence Day Anniversary, unlike the year before, was celebrated to the fullest with some former leaders and top government functionaries joining President Muhammadu Buhari at the celebration at Eagle Squares, Abuja, on Monday.
President Buhari during the car parade.
This was as number three and four citizens of the country, Bukola Saraki and Yakubu, Dogara were conspicuously missing at the august occasion where the nation’s 58th Independence anniversary parade was held.
Roll call of those present include President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, among others.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo however did not attend the national event without given reason.
The absence of former Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Head of Interim National Government Chief Ernest Sonekan may however have been naturally understood to be for health reasons, respectively.
Military hardware including the Nigerian Air Force jet fighters on display, to mark the celebration of Nigeria at 58 in Abuja on Monday.
After the ceremonial parade comprising of the Armed Forces, police and other para-military agencies, there was also a parade of the nation’s military hardware as well as air displays.
A photo exhibition depicting Nigerian history and an Independence Day Dinner were also part of the ceremonies to mark the 58th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
In like manner, Obasanjo, Saraki and Dogara, also on June 12 celebrations, absented themselves from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Abuja where President Buhari following a well publicity awarded late presumed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Alhaji Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola with the greatest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), posthumously, his running mate at the annulled election, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe decorated as Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) and late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, posthumously decorated with the second greatest honour, like Kingibe, of GCON.
EXCITED! From Left: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Onnoghen, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President Muhammadu Buhari, former Heads of State General Yakubu Gowon, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, at the celebration of Nigeria at 58, in Abuja, on Monday.
President signing a register. With are Vice President Osinbajo (right), Minister of Defence Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Alli (Rtd), 3rd left, Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonisakin, 2nd left, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, and others.
Dogara’s reason for not attending, according to a report, was hinged on whether he was invited or not to the occasion, which many have punctured as untenable, even Saraki has no excuse for not attending.
While Obasanjo has been at the for front of anti-Muhammadu Buhari-led government crusade to stop his re-election in 2019, Saraki and Dogara, who joined the former President in advancing the course of the crusade, recently defected the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party.
Currently Saraki, who has continued to lock up the National Assembly even after the expiration of its annual recess for what Crusade Against Corruption In Nigeria Initiative (CACINI), in one of The DEFENDER’s reports, described on Monday as “Saraki’s game plan to reconvene NASS after February 2019 election”, is currently a Presidential Aspirant of the PDP. Dogara, however, is seeking re-election as a member of the House of Representatives.
President Buhari in handshakes with former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, while former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Chief of Staff to the President Mallam Abba Kyari look with keen interest.
