President Bola Tinubu said the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day military parade gave him the chance to rest and enjoy a cultural celebration at the unveiling of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos.
President Bola Tinubu has said the cancellation of the 65th Independence Day military parade allowed him to rest, enjoy breakfast, and attend a cultural celebration in Lagos.
The Federal Government had on Monday announced the suspension of the annual parade through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stating the move “is in no way a diminishment of the significance of this milestone anniversary.”
Speaking on Wednesday at the reopening of the renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly the National Arts Theatre, Tinubu described the change as refreshing. “Happy 65th Independence Anniversary. This has broken the monotony of military march-past, parade and everything. By cancelling this programme, I was able to have a good sleep, have a nice breakfast and wait for this evening. And the evening is well spent,” he said.
The centre, renovated by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers’ Committee, was renamed in July 2024 after Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka.
Tinubu hailed Soyinka as “one of the greatest assets of the world, Africa and Nigeria,” stressing his contributions to nation building and freedom.