Jonathan, Sambo celebrate inside Villa

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday led cabinet members, other top government officials, former heads of government and friends of the nation, to the grand finale of the nation’s 54th Independence anniversary inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The anniversary was marked with the commemorative Presidential Change of Guards Parade at the forecourt of the Villa as it has been the case since 2011.

No activity took place at the Eagle Square, the usual venue of national ceremonies.

During the nation’s 50th Independence anniversary on October 1, 2010, two car bombings by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta near the Eagle Square in Abuja claimed the lives of 12 people and injured 17.

The government has however denied insinuations that the decision to hold the Independence celebration inside the Villa since 2011 was to avoid the embarrassment another bomb blast might cause the nation in view of worsening insecurity in the land.

The Wednesday programme was strictly a military event conducted by two battalions of the Presidential Guards Brigade — the 177 Battalion based in Keffi and the Seventh Guards Battalion, Abuja.

The 177 Guards Battalion provided the new guards that would be saddled with the responsibility of protecting the President, his family and other residents of the Villa.

The event, which started with Jonathan’s arrival at about 10 am, lasted for about one-and-a-half hours.

It featured the inspection of new guards/quarter guards, silent drill, posting of sentries/colour patrol and echelon reporting of parade, among other military manoeuvring.

At the end of the parade, Jonathan, who was flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo and service chiefs as well as the Inspector-General of Police signed the independence anniversary register and released pigeons to signify peace.

The President also led dignitaries to cut the anniversary cake and thereafter joined them in a brief reception.

Unlike in 2012 when he wore a military uniform of a Field Marshal, Jonathan was dressed in his usual traditional Ijaw attire this year.

He was accompanied to the event by his wife, Patience.

Other dignitaries at the event included President of the Senate, David Mark; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.); and ex-Head, Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Others were former Vice President Alex Ekwueme; former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd.); members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, members of the Diplomatic Corps and other top government officials.