As part of activities to mark the 2024 Democracy Day, the Guards Brigade Nigerian Army on Wednesday led the Nigerian Armed Forces and Nigeria Police in a special parade.
Nigeria is also celebrating 25 years of unbroken democracy.
The theme for the Democracy Day Celebration is “25 Years of Enduring Democracy: Prospects for the Future”.
The parade was mounted by the personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Police who displayed a colourful parade.
President Bola Tinubu, who is the reviewing officer for the parade mounted the special military parade vehicle with his Aide de Camp to inspect the parade at about 10.15 am.
Afterward, the troops began the match past, first to salute the dignitaries and seek permission to commence the quick match past.
This was followed by the silent drill display by the Guards Brigade, mass bang and cultural troupes display and other important activities
President Tinubu and his wife, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu arrived the venue at exactly at 10.00 am heralding the commencement of the programme.
The President of the Senate and Speaker, House of Representatives, Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas as well as the Chief Justice of Nigerian and Secretary to the Government of the Federation arrived earlier.
Also present were Ministers, state governors, lawmakers and security chiefs.
Earlier in a nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu praised the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola and other heroes of democracy, including General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others.
In his Democracy Day broadcast on Wednesday, the President also celebrated other heroes including Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, and Chief Bola Ige, and other eminent Nigerians who made great sacrifices for the restoration of democracy in the country.
The President urged Nigerians to beware of elements who might want to undermine the current democratic dispensation.
He acknowledged the economic hardships in the country and expressed his commitment to supporting the citizens.
He said, “On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society.
“Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator.