Le président Paul Biya a regagné Yaoundé tard dans la nuit de vendredi, après avoir pris part dans la journée à Abuja aux manifestations organisées à l’occasion de l’an 50 de l’indépendance de la République fédérale du Nigéria. Le chef de l’Etat était accompagné de son épouse et d’une importante.

Suite officielle du chef de l’Etat

- MM Amadou Ali, vice-Premier ministre, ministre de la Justice garde des Sceaux ;

- Henri Eyebe Ayissi, ministre des Relations extérieures ;

- Martin Belinga Eboutou, directeur du Cabinet Civil de la Présidence de la République ;

- René Sadi, ministre chargé de mission à la présidence de la République ;

- Mengot Victor Arrey-Nkongho, ministre chargé de mission à la présidence de la République ;

- Ibrahima Salaheddine Abbas, haut-commissaire du Cameroun en République Fédérale du Nigeria ;

- Simon Pierre Bikele, chef du protocole d’Etat ;

- Capitaine de Vaisseau Joseph Fouda, aide de camp du président de la République.

Independence Anniversary Parade Today In Abuja

Celebrations marking Nigeria’s fifty years of independence reach their peak at Eagle Square today. Scores of World Leaders, with President Paul Biya at the frontline are in attendance.

Nigeria’s fifty year history as an independent country will be celebrated today in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of the World’s most populous black nation. Scores of World Leaders are in Abuja for the event whose major attraction is an anniversary parade at Eagle Square today. The jubilee celebration began more than a fortnight ago with the launching of the anniversary logo and the countdown clock at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja. Other activities associated with the celebrations included the commissioning of the Independence Tower at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, the 50th Anniversary Children’s party by the first Lady of Nigeria, Miss Nigeria Pageant and cultural and historical exhibitions. Last Wednesday, Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Faka Jonathan, accompanied by Minister of Women Affairs visited selected orphanage homes, prisons and hospitals in Abuja. Yesterday, the celebrations continued with a colloquium on Nigeria’s Leadership in the World, a Seminar on Women, Children, Youth and other vulnerable groups in national development and a Presidential banquet and conferment of national honours on fifty distinguished Nigerians. A cultural evening at the Millennium Tower that included acrobatic, cultural and fire works display was the last item on the anniversary programme yesterday in Abuja.

Celebrations

At the Eagle Square today in Abuja, an anniversary Parade stretching through three hours will be the principal event for the Independence Day celebrations. A national religious event will take the cue later in the afternoon at the National Mosque in Abuja and other Mosque Nationwide. Given that it is a Friday, “Juma at Prayers” will precede a lecture by Right Honourable Gordon Brown on the theme:

“Transforming Nigeria in the next fifty years” at the Thisday dome in Abuja. Top on the agenda of the prolongation of the celebrations will be a Presidential Dinner – tomorrow at State House in Marina, Lagos and on Sunday, Church Services at the National Christian Worship Centre in Abuja and other Churches Nationwide. The Jubilee Celebrations are expected to stretch to the end of October. Although Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory is the principal hub around which the bulk of the anniversary events revolve, everything is being done to give the celebrations a national spread. “Nigeria at Fifty” has been an occasion for some Nigerians to take a cold hard look of its Fifty years history as an independent country. Professor Wole Soyinka winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for literature, in an interview with TheNews Magazine asserts that “we are living in an emergency”. Fifty years ago, on October 1st 1960 he performed one of his numerous plays: “Dance of the Forest” Most Nigerians however look forward to development and progress in the next fifty years and express optimism at the future of their country, as a strong and united entity.

Election Shadow

Since independence some fifty years ago when the departing British Colonial Masters lowered the Union Jack in the place of the green-white-green, Nigeria has had thirteen leaders. At least eight of the thirteen were Military Leaders and only Presidents Nnamdi Azikiwe, Shehu Shagari, Mohamed Yar’adua and current President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan being civilians. General Olusegun Obasanjo led the country twice – in 1983 after the assassination of General Murtala Mohamed and later as an elected civilian Head of State. The Presidential Elections next year are already dominating the national psyche and somehow overshadowing the anniversary celebrations of fifty years of independence. The return of political heavy weights of yester years into the Presidential race to challenge the incumbent and the debate surrounding plans to shift the election date from January to April 2011 have been making the news in Nigeria. After eight years in power, General Ibrahim Babaginda is joining the race to Aso Rock Villa. Another household name in recent Nigerian politics, Atiku Abubakar, Vice President under General Obasanjo for eight years is also gunning for the Presidential ticket. At the peak of celebrations marking fifty years of Nigerian independence, Abuja is instead awash with campaign posters of the different candidates in the Presidential race next year. As Nigerians celebrate the Fifty years of independence today, there is unanimity in opinio that, after all is said and done, the country has progressed although not with the speed its potentials deserve. Keeping the nation one and indivisible has apparently been the greatest achievement in its fifty year history.