₦airaland Forum

President Bola Tinubu says cancellation of the 65th Independence Day military parade afforded him the opportunity to sleep well and enjoy “nice breakfast” on Wednesday.

Daily Trust reports that the Federal Government had cancelled the parade earlier scheduled to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, October 1.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“The Federal Government wishes to announce the cancellation of the Independence Anniversary parade, previously scheduled to mark the 65th Independence on Wednesday, 1st October. The cancellation is in no way a diminishment of the significance of this milestone anniversary,” the statement, signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, read.


Speaking on Wednesday at the unveiling of the renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Arts Theatre in Lagos, Tinubu said he slept well after the parade’s cancellation.

The president said he had a pleasant evening at the inauguration of the renovated Centre funded and overseen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee.

The event, he said, broke what he called the monotony of the usual military parade on the independence day anniversary.

“I’m more than grateful for tonight. I enjoyed the evening.

“Happy 65th Independence Anniversary. This has broken the monotony of military march-past, parade and everything. By cancelling this programme, I was able to have a good sleep, have a nice breakfast and wait for this evening. And the evening is well spent,” he told the gathering.

Tinubu arrived at the venue at about 6:24 p.m for the reopening ceremony of the monument.

The President had in July 2024 renamed the edifice the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in honour of the Nobel Laureate.

At the unveiling, Tinubu was joined by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, H.E. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, and the host of the occasion, Professor Wole Soyinka.

Tinubu expressed his satisfaction to have renamed the centre after Soyinka who he described as one of the greatest assets of the world, Africa and Nigeria.

He said the literary icon has contributed greatly to nation building and freedom.

“So, it couldn’t have been anything else and I know definitely you (referring to Soyinka) will not disobey this president. I said it has to be Wole Soyinka Centre,” Tinubu said.

Fatbam005:
Tinubu Tinubu, Tinubu..are you the one to come or should we wait for another ?

Racoon:
He knows the mood is not right despite his govt many lies and propaganda? How would he when the enthusiasm have been replaced with the desperate will to even survive?

If his current bootlicker said Nigeria has nothing to celebrate @50 years when things were far better than under his cornful brother, it is now that it is triple worst that wants to celebrate poverty, economic stagnation, deteriorating insecurity, worsening cost of living and abysmal indices of national retrogression in ever facet of our national life?

AMINDA:
The Paul Biya tendencies continue to manifest. Main character syndrome. He thinks everything is about him. Wants all the perks of governing without any of the responsibility. The NDA cadets passed out in Kaduna over the weekend without the president nor his Vice being physically present, even though he was in the country. That has hardly ever happened before. The cadets take their oath pledging allegiance and loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief.

chidiokay:
Thank God you are feeling the heat ... and the heat reaching you will continue to intensify in as much as you've made it a duty to make life difficult for an average Nigeria

erad:
Lol... Una go tire. You keep inventing narratives where non exists.

If he was there, you'll probably say he's recruiting young military men to help him retain power. Lol. Una no dey tire?

This isn't how opposition is played. This is just senseless blabbering and it's very disappointing to see.

erad:
Lol... Una go tire. You keep inventing narratives where non exists.

If he was there, you'll probably say he's recruiting young military men to help him retain power. Lol. Una no dey tire?

This isn't how opposition is played. This is just senseless blabbering and it's very disappointing to see.