By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab
Ilorin
Ilorin Metropolitan Square, Venue of Nigeria’s 54th Independence Day Anniversary Celebration located in the Kwara state capital yesterday, recorded virtually empty seats as residents stayed away from the venue.
Apart from the state box that was occupied by hand full of government officials mostly permanent secretaries and heads of military and paramilitary organisations, all other six sections of the metropolitan square was empty with only security operatives keeping surveillance.
Although school children that usually make up the numbers of seats at the metropolitan square were yet to resume from indefinite holidays due to Ebola virus disease, many people stayed away from the venue.
Apart from the holiday, some residents believe the poor turnout might not be unconnected with the forthcoming Eid-el-kabir celebration as a Ilorin is a predominantly dominated Muslim town.
Kwara had been very peaceful and had not recorded any case of insurgency in recent times but the emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, had cancelled the annual Fulani/Boro cultural festival for the Sallah.
However, men of Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian Prisons Service performed mounted parade guards at the venue.
Other included men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kwara State Road Traffic Maintenance Agency( KWARTMA),National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Boys Brigade, Boys Scout, Nigeria Aide Group, Girls Brigade, Amadiya Group, Islamiya YA Group, Sheriff Guard and Royal Sheppered Group, among others.
Deputy Governor of the state, Elder Peter Kisra, represented Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed while the deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, Prof. Gana Yisa, represented the Speaker, Barrister Rasaq Atunwa.
Shortly after taking the official salute of arrival, the deputy governor mounted a black ceremonial vehicle, inspected the guards of honour, and took March Past salutes.
Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included commissioner sports and youths Development, Prince Saheed Popoola, his counter parts in the Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Abubakar Mora, among others.
