Hundreds of Cameroonians resident in Nigeria did not miss any occasion to cheer, clap and chant patriotic songs to President Paul Biya and the First lady last Friday in Abuja

One feather was added to the Cap of Cameroon-Nigeria relations last Friday with the active participation of President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya in the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of Nigeria’s independence. Arriving in Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday night, the First Couple were given a red carpet reception. Two bouquets of flowers, Cameroon High Commissioner to Abuja, Salaheddine Ibrahima Abbas and colleagues, and Senator Sanusi Daggash, Nigeria’s minister of Works and Housing Development were at the foot of the aircraft to welcome President Paul Biya and First lady Chantal Biya. Another vital element in the welcome scenario at the Nnamdi Azikimwe International Airport late that Thursday night were hundreds of Cameroonians who kept vigil, to give their First Couple a deserved welcome to the Nigerian Capital City of Abuja. After a few hours of sleep, President Paul Biya and First lady Chantal Biya were on their feet the next day to actively participate in the independence anniversary parade at Eagle Square in Abuja.

Anniversary Parade

Thousands of Nigerians in the Federal Capital territory of Abuja thronged the Eagle Square to watch the anniversary Parade. As early as 10h25a.m. scores of World leaders and other top dignitaries in Nigeria were already at Eagle Square. Cameroon’s First Couple were very visible and remarkable in the crowded Square. The arrival of President Goodluck Ebele Johnathan set the ball rolling at 10h50. After the playing of the national anthem of Nigeria and the military inspection by President Goodluck Johnathan, the parade was set into motion. Both the military and civilians performed a colourful parade that was sealed by a twenty one gun salute. The events of the day at Eagle Square came to an end with the departure of President Goodluck Johnathan, accompanied by Nigeria’s First lady, Patience Faka Johnathan. President Paul Biya and First lady Chantal Biya with other visiting World leaders also left the Eagle Square premises for their residence at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. Later in the evening, Cameroon’s Presidential Couple left Abuja for Yaounde in a décor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport that witnessed hundreds of Cameroonians clapping and chanting Patriotic Songs.

Lessons

In spite of the bloody bomb blast that took place just eight hundred metres to the anniversary parade grounds at Eagle Square, the activities of the day went on smoothly nationwide in Nigeria. At last sixteen Nigerians died and over thirty critically injured. A number of vehicles were also consumed in the flames that sent many taking to their heels on that mid-day last Friday in Abuja. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) took responsibility for the bombing that was said to have been announced in advance. President Goodluck Johnathan described the attacks as “wicked and dastardly”. In a nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s golden jubilee celebration, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Johnathan urged his countrymen to be determined to make things work, stressing that the nation’s, dream of a new generation of leaders with new ideas was possible. The bomb blast and the ongoing campaign for the upcoming Presidential elections have inadvertently moved into the centre stage of the limelight in a month of independence anniversary celebrations. The remarkable presence of President Paul Biya and First lady Chantal Biya in Abuja last weekend re-enforced the special friendly relations between Cameroon and Nigeria. The Strength and depth of these brotherly ties were visible with the positive quality of welcome given to the First Couple in Abuja. At the parade grounds in Eagle Square Abuja, President Paul Biya was the centre of meticulous attention by past and present leaders of Nigeria. Generals Olusugun Obasanjo and Yakubu Gowon, all gave the Presidential Couple a hearty welcome at the Eagle Square. The principal lesson that emerged from the presence of President Paul Biya and wife in Abuja is the consolidation of the existing friendly and brotherly ties between Cameroon and Nigeria. More than any other world leader in Abuja last Friday, President Paul Biya drew positive and strategic attention from the host authorities. It is evident Nigeria attaches a lot of importance to Cameroon, a neighbour with whom she shares the longest international border.