The 111 men in a majestic march past held the Head of State and his guests spellbound.

 Gentle and majestic! This is the description many onlookers gave a contingent of Nigerian army, guest at this year’s National Day, as the 111 men marched past the Head of State and other national and international dignitaries at the 20^th May Boulevard yesterday May 20.

They were unique in everything. They came all the way with their band; they marched slowly and gently in calculated steps to the rhythm of their music. The band trailed the troops as they majestically took their royal steps but surely in solidarity with their Cameroonian peers to make true the theme of the 41^st edition of the National Day, “The Army and the Nation, Working Together towards Meeting Security Challenges for an Emerging Cameroon.”

Their style of marching, unique in itself, brought quietude at the ceremonial ground as onlookers watched and dished out spontaneous applauses. The Head of State, Paul Biya and First Lady, Chantal Biya, flanked by senior State officials cheered the Nigerian men as they exhibited what many chose to qualify as a queen’s march. Among the high-level quests at the presidential tribune was General Sy Aoudou who led the Nigerian delegation.

Before and after the Nigerians marched past, no other contingent or group performed like them. Cameroonian defence forces, all contingents inclusive, were explosive in their performance, marching with force and exhibiting their strength in securing the country, its people and goods and in so doing surmounting security huddles so as to accelerate the country’s socio-economic development. But in all calmness, the Nigerian contingent, special in every move, demonstrated that all (calmness and force) can combine to give a nation peace, stability and sustainable development. A performance which the Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Hadiza Mustapha, described as a sign of good times, peaceful and cordial relationships with much to come. “Now, with the peace that we have gained, we are hoping to also expand on the economic relationship to help our people get more jobs and assist our national development,” she said.