According to Punch Newspaper, three of President Goodluck Jonathan’s
successors-ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; ex-Heads of State, Maj. Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida – as well as President of
the Senate, David Mark, were on Thursday absent from the country’s centenary
being held in Abuja.
They did not attend the international conference
held as part of activities marking the centenary, which was attended by about
30 heads of governments and international organisations.
But another three former leaders, Gen. Yakubu
Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Chief Ernest Shonekan, as well as ex-Vice
President Alex Ekwueme and a former Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo
Diya (retd.) attended the event.
Other dignitaries in attendance included the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Speaker,
Emeka Ihedioha; state governors; security chiefs; former Secretary-General of
the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; National Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; the chairman of the party’s Board of
Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; members of the diplomatic corps, members of the
National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council and other top
government officials.
The heads of governments in their goodwill
messages commiserated with the Federal Government and Nigerians on the Tuesday
killing of schoolchildren in the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe
State.
They urged Nigerians to unite against terrorists,
saying no nation could develop in an atmosphere of violence.
Meanwhile, civil servants and other workers with
offices located on Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District Abuja, the
same neighbourhood with the venue of the event had difficulties accessing
their offices on Thursday because of the tight security.
Many of them were forced to park away and trek to
their offices as traffic was diverted.
Armed security operatives were deployed at
strategic points in the area.
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