President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday revealed that the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day military parade allowed him to enjoy a rare moment of rest.
Speaking at the unveiling of the newly renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (formerly the National Arts Theatre) in Lagos, the president said the decision to scrap the traditional October 1 parade broke the “monotony” of the usual march-pasts and gave him the chance to sleep well, eat a “nice breakfast,” and savour a more refreshing celebration.
“Happy 65th Independence Anniversary. This has broken the monotony of military march-past and parade. By cancelling this programme, I was able to have a good sleep, a nice breakfast, and enjoy this beautiful evening,” Tinubu told dignitaries at the event.
The unveiling of the cultural landmark, renovated under the supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bankers’ Committee, drew a high-profile gathering including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, and Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka himself.
Tinubu expressed delight at renaming the monument after Soyinka, describing him as “one of the greatest assets of the world, Africa, and Nigeria.”
The Federal Government had earlier announced the cancellation of the Independence Day parade in a statement by , the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, clarifying that the move did not diminish the significance of Nigeria’s 65th independence milestone.
