Bombings: FG plans low-key independence celebration

Following the spate of bombings that has rocked the nation’s capital, Abuja, and the precarious security situation in the country, preparations for the October 1 Independence Day celebrations have been put ‘on hold’ for now.

SUNDAYPUNCH gathered that this year’s would be low-profile celebration as the government was wary of bomb attacks by the fundamentalist Boko Haram sect, which had been waging a relentless war against the FG.

The Assistant Director, Press, to the Minister of Interior, Theodore Jackson, confirmed the development, saying the preparations for the Independence Day celebrations had been put on hold.

According to him, the programme of events, which is usually released few weeks to the celebration day, has not been issued.

He said, “What I can say is that the preparations for the celebration have been put on hold for now. The government has not issued the programme of events, but from what I gathered, the event would be very low-key.”

Our correspondent’s attempts to reach the minister were not successful as he could not be reached on his phone for full disclosure on government plans for the October 1 celebration.

SUNDAY PUNCH further gathered that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had yet to issue invitation letters to Foreign Embassies for this year’s Independence Day celebration; a sign that it would be devoid of the usual pomp and pageantry.

Confirming this, Mr Wale Adebajo of the Communication Section of the British High Commission in response to SUNDAY PUNCH’s inquiry said, “We are yet to receive an official invite to the Independence Day events. We will be honoured to attend and trust that the Nigerian security will be adequately in place.”

His counterpart at the United States Embassy, Mr. Sani Mohammed, in response to whether an invite had been sent to them by the FG said, “I think this question should be directed to Nigerian authorities.”

It was not clear as at the time of filing this report whether or not there will be the traditional military parade often associated with such events.

Attempts to get official comments from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with regard to the invitation were unsuccessful as the Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, led a delegation of ministry staff to accompany President Goodluck Jonathan to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Calls to the mobile phone of the spokesperson for the ministry, Mr. Damien Agu, did not go through; text messages to the same number went unanswered.

However, a member of staff of the ministry, who declined to give his name said, “It is the office of the minister that handles such issues. If there is going to be an event of this magnitude that will involve foreign dignitaries, the minister issues a directive for us to prepare and send out invitation letters but as we speak, no such directive has been given.”

The member of staff however said, “It is not late, October 1 is still over a week from now, there is still time.”

It would be recalled that last year, many foreign dignitaries accepted invitations to attend Nigeria’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations but backed out barely 24 hours to the event.

Their decision was informed by bomb threats which turned out to be true.

The statement allegedly issued by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta read, “With due respect to all invited guests, dignitaries and attendees of the 50th independence anniversary of Nigeria being held today, Friday, October 1, 2010 at the Eagle Square Abuja, the MEND is asking everyone to begin immediate evacuation of the entire area within the next 30 minutes. This warning expires after 10:30 hours,

“Several explosive devices have been successfully planted in and around the venue by our operatives working inside the government security services.

“In evacuating the area, keep a safe distance from vehicles and trash bins. There is nothing worth celebrating after 50 years of failure.

“For 50 years, the people of the Niger Delta have had their land and resources stolen from them. The constitution before independence which offered resource control was mutilated by illegal military governments and this injustice is yet to be addressed.”

Although a number of diplomats who came into the country for the event were ferried from the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, an unspecified number remained behind in their rooms.

A Canadian diplomat who is ending his term of duty said, “I was at Eagle Square (venue of the parade) when the bombs went off but did not know anything was wrong until I received a text message.”

He explained that while some of them decided to ignore the threats, others decided it was credible enough for them to steer clear of the venue.

Despite the seeming unpreparedness of the FG as October 1 approaches, security agencies in the country are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it is not marred by any incident of bombings and the killing of innocent Nigerians.

The Police Force Public Relations Officer, Shola Amore, said the police would not disclose their plans. He said, “Security strategies are not discussed on the pages of newspapers but we have taken good care of the security that would be needed on that day.”

SUNDAY PUNCH investigations reveal that operatives of the State Security Service have commenced holistic preparations.

It was gathered that security operatives have also taken over all the high rise buildings in and around the Eagle Square to ensure that the country was not embarrassed by terrorist organisations affiliated to the Boko Haram sect.

The source dismissed insinuations that foreign delegates, ambassadors and high commissioners might be wary of attending the event because of the security situation in the country.

It was further gathered that the October 1, 2011 anniversary would be marked by an unprecedented deployment of security personnel.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011092552178

Too scared of BH to properly celebrate independence.

Lmao, pathetic

So what eventually happened to the people who bombed the last Independence celebrations and killed innocent people?
Is this government still denying that MEND did it?or was it Boko Haram disguised as MEND?

ekt_bear:

Too scared of BH to properly celebrate independence.
Lmao, pathetic

+1000

The way things are going GEJ will refuse to stay in Aso Rock. This government is beginning to turn into the biggest national mistake EVER.

Low key? Complete cancelletion would do jor. Lets all celebrate in our various clans with fellow kinsmen.
Why should one risk life to celebrate an old man who cant walk benle run?

Oh really? So we are now having a parallel government headed by Boko Haram

well, the bottom line is scare resouce wont be flushed down the toilet in the name of celebrating a total failure.

How i wish this country will just disintegrate. we the jobless are planning a peaceful protest today, in Abuja. Stay tuned for more info.

reindeer:

So what eventually happened to the people who bombed the last Independence celebrations and killed innocent people?
Is this government still denying that MEND did it?or was it Boko Haram disguised as MEND?

High Chief Raymond Dokpesi

Ok, wats low key celebration equivalent in # abi $s. Hope it doesnt get to a #billion.

For once thnks to Boko Haram otherwise billions of Naira will be spent in the name of independent celebration,while millions of Nigerians are dying for hunger and unemployment.

Faggo:

For once thnks to Boko Haram otherwise billions of Naira will be spent in the name of independent celebration,while millions of Nigerians are dying for hunger and unemployment.

Abegi,that money will be shared among jonathan,the National Assembly and pdp.

i hope "low key" does not mean there wld not be a public holiday oh

Ministry of foreign affairs
minister of state for foreign affairs
permanent secretary ministry of foreign affairs
permanent secretary ministry of state for foreign affairs
assistant permanent secretary to the ministry of foreign affairs
assistant permenanent secretary to the ministry of state for foreign affairs
director press ministry of foreign affairs
assistant director press ministry of foreign affairs
(special assistants and senior/junior assistant special assistants to all the above)
ministry of interior affairs
minister of state for interior affairs
permanent secretary ministry of interior affairs
permanent secretary ministry of state for interior affairs
assistant permanent secretary to the ministry of interior affairs
assistant permenanent secretary to the ministry of state for interior affairs
director press ministry of interior affairs
assistant director press ministry of interior affairs
(special assistants and senior/junior assistant special assistants to all the above)
etc etc

Guess how many billions would have changed hands only in these bogus establishments if the yeye fed. planned a high class celebration. in this regard, i say kudos boko haram.

No, the government should bake a billion naira cake to celebrate how much can be looted in the country.
Monkeys.

They call it National Cake day


Another opportunity to loot in broad day light

like this bokoharams but what they want, i dont adore!

Toaskarity:

like this bokoharams but what they want, i dont adore!

I'm not here to condemn any religion or tribe, but it remains an undeniable fact that it will be very cumbersome to talk of a peaceful co-existence in a Country where you have a religion that teaches its adherants to maim and kill people who do not profess the same faith with them in the majority. Qu'ran 9:5 "Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war".
In Surah 5v51 Allah warned Muslim faithfuls not to take Christians and Jews as friends and any faithful that does that is to be treated as an infidel.
Qu'ran 9:123 "O ye who believe! Fight those of disbelievers who are near to you and let them find harshness in you, and know tha Allah is with those who keep their duty". How can will discuss a peaceful 'ONE NIGERIA' while isolating these challenges I see why they are always ready to die

ofcourse like someone said before islam killing is heredictory but thats not my point here,
my point is that somehow they are threatening the main common enemy we have in Nigeria (Nigeria govt),
the crisis of caused by this ppl can be stopped if only the govt turns out good tomorrow!

The next thing we'll hear is "We have to temporary move the capital of Nigeria to Saudi because of boko haram". The fear boko haram is the beginning of wisdom indeed.

i fear for Nigeria