The truism that there are no
permanent friends or foes in
politics but permanent interests
assumed a life of its own in the
glittering ambience of the
Banquet Hall of the State House in
Abuja, where President Goodluck
Jonathan officially flagged off the
year-long centenary celebrations
of Nigeria as a nation state. In an
atmosphere of conviviality,
erstwhile sworn enemies
embraced and, metaphorically
speaking, shared drinks.
It was not the usual night of long
knives when politicians take
political hostilities to murderous
heights but a night of brotherly
love when all that matters is the
nation, as the president hosted
all the living past Heads of State
and ex-presidents to a
sumptuous dinner.
It was also a night of big
surprises. Even since the news of
the flag-off filtered into the press,
and up until the Master of
Ceremony mounted the podium
that night, there was no inkling
of any big surprise in the
making. Then, the
announcements began, first,
with former Heads of State and
ex-presidents. And the former
men of power began to strut in.
The hall reverberated with
applause and all heads turned
towards the entrance as the MC
mentioned the name of General
Muhammadu Buhari. Those who
could not see well quickly stood
up while those who had access
to the big television screens in
the hall gazed at them just to
confirm if what they heard was
true. They didn’t have to wait
long as General Buhari walked in,
smiling.
There was a loud ovation when
the light-skinned tall General
walked into the hall and waved
to his admirers. Did you say: why
the loud ovation? Well, here you
have your answer: Buhari is not
a regular face in the Presidential
Villa since the return of
democracy in 1999. He rarely
visits.
Buhari, who many prefer to refer
to as a veteran presidential
candidate, contested against
former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, late President Umar
Yar’Adua and President Goodluck
Jonathan. He lost in the three
instances. In all the instances, he
contested the results of the polls
up to the Supreme Court. He lost
too. Despite the verdicts, he
believed the ensuing
governments lacked legitimacy,
and therefore, avoided them like
a plague. Not only that, he never
spared them the bitter side of his
tongue anytime they goofed.
Little wonder, the was rocked
with ovation as the former
military Head of State and
President Jonathan made their
first public contact by lighting the
centenary torch.ed the podium,
hand-in-hand, to the admiration
of eminent guests with many
exclaiming loud: “This is a
successful coup against Buhari to
support Jonathan’s
administration,” while others,
with some cynical sense of
humour, said it was a dress
rehearsal of a possible hand-over
ceremony from Jonathan to
Buhari come 2015. .
Whatever it is, the colourful
display of art works depicting
the history, the people and
achievements of the country
from January 1, 1914, the date of
the formal amalgamation of the
Northern and Southern
Protectorates of the former
British Colony to date, sort of
vindicated the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation
(SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim,
who came under fire from the
National Assembly when he went
to brief members. The
lawmakers, senators and reps.,
wanted to know where the
staggering sums voted for the
celebrations would come from.
At the Senate, lawmakers sought
clarification from Anyim that
even though the event would be
private sector-driven, it would
not involve the National Assembly
having to approve some funds.
The highpoint of the briefing
was the disclosure by Anyim that
a world-class Centenary City
would be built in Abuja. The
House of Representatives was
divided over the request by
President Goodluck Jonathan that
the lawmakers should approve
the celebration. There was
tension when the SGF reeled out
the programme, which excluded
the National Assembly.
But all that fizzled out at the kick-
off of the centenary celebrations
as guests, drawn from the
political class, traditional
institution, the clergy, women
groups, entrepreneurs and the
youth who represent the
aspiration of the future, took in
the beautiful ambience of the
banquet hall. The decorations
had traditional and historical
themes like the colonial masters,
masquerades, wood and bronze
carvings from different parts of
the country, even the people’s
culinary culture were
conspicuously displayed,
resplendent in their native
flavours..
The former Heads of State and
Presidents, including General
Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Gen.
Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu
Shagari, Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari, and General Abdulsalami
Abubakar, were all present at the
flag-off dinner of the centenary
celebrations billed to hold in
January 2014. ?Obasanjo, an
unrepentant critic of the
Jonathan Administration,
especially on the handling of
terrorism and other security
challenges facing the nation,
presented the centenary theme:
One Nigeria, Great Promise,
enjoining Nigerians to love their
country and speak positively
about their leaders.
Obasanjo recalled his 2003
national broadcast where he
asked: “If you cannot love
Nigeria and be positive about it,
and make contributions to its
progress, then, I should ask you
what sort of Nigerian are you?”
He said every Nigerian, after
staying together for 100 years,
should remain focused in the
quest for making their fatherland
a “humane, just and progressive”
nation..
Speaking in the same vein,
Abubakar said Nigeria is in the
league of countries like India,
China, Egypt, Ethiopia and
America for surviving 100 years
and more of co-existence in spite
daunting challenges. He urged
Nigerians to use the opportunity
of the centenary celebrations to
lay the foundation for a new
nation..”There is every reason to
celebrate in songs and dances,”
he said. “One nation, indivisible
Nigeria has come to stay.”
Abubakar, thereafter, presented
a centenary theme song titled:
This Land, celebrating one
hundred years of Nigeria, which
was subsequently performed by
a team of notable Nigerian
musicians led by Onyeka
Onwenu..Gowon, who unveiled
the centenary logo, described
Nigeria as a nation of strong,
peaceful and hard working
people. He expressed hope in the
future of the country..He
described Nigeria as “a unique
nation, a nation of diverse,
strong and hard working
people.”.He noted that not many
nations could survive 100 years
of cohesiveness in spite of the
diverse nature of the nation and
the several challenges she has
faced..
Unveiling the centenary logo, the
former Head of State declared:
“The emblem symbolises a
rallying point for the unity of the
nation..The logo embodies the
country’s values for faith and
courage and symbolises unity.”
He, then, prayed for Nigeria to
experience peace and
progress. .”May it be a reminder
of our entity, unity and oneness
of the nation which is not
negotiable and serve as a symbol
of peace, unity and
prosperity.”.He later presented
the logo to the president..
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Tambuwal,
launched the centenary web
portal,
www.nigeriacentenary.com.ng,
while the Senate President, David
Mark, launched the centenary
lottery..Jonathan, Buhari, and
120-year-old Salisu Goubnor,
from Zungeru in Niger State, who
witnessed the 1914
amalgamation, as well as two
children (male and female)
representing the younger
generation, joined in lighting the
centenary torch..They were later
joined by the Vice President
Namadi Sambo, all former Heads
of State, First Lady, Patience
Jonathan and the Vice President’s
wife, Amina Sambo for
photographs.