– Tells Nigerians to Expect Large Centenary Celebrations in 2014
THE low-key celebrations that heralded Nigeria’s 52nd Independence Day celebrations had nothing to do with security challenges, the presidency stated on Monday. Instead it was part of government plans towards a much more elaborate plan for the 2014 centenary celebration of Nigeria’s existence.
Speaking to the media at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan’s chief communications aide, Reuben Abati, debunked growing claims that the event was moved to the villa for security reasons.
“President Jonathan has personally responded to the allegation that the event is being held within the State House by making it clear that in 2014, we will have a big event: the centenary of Nigeria since amalgamation,” Abati said.
“Few years ago, we have [sic] the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence and that was a big event.
“The President’s take on this is that between that 50-year anniversary and the centenary of Nigeria’s amalgamation, we should have low-keyed celebrations.
“Those who are looking for celebration on a grand scale should wait till 2014 when we will have the 100 years of Nigeria’s amalgamation,” the presidential spokesman said.
At Monday’s ceremony, 176 Special Forces battalion of the Nigerian Army was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan, who presided over the ceremony as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, in an event marked with a ceremonial change of guards by the outgoing and incoming Quarter Guards and Guards’ Brigade.
According to defense minister Sola Obada, the newly established battalion is to strengthen the Guards’ Brigade and to make it more effective in response to security challenges in and around the Federal Capital Territory.
Monday’s launch adds to the existing 177 and 7 battalions of the presidential guards brigade, an elite group of military personnel responsible for protecting the president and the center of power that is the Federal Capital Territory.
Defense Minister Obada added that the ceremonial presentation of colors to the battalion was symbolic in the sense that it could only be done by the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.