Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki was conspicuously missing at Nigeria’s 58th Independence Day anniversary in Abuja on Monday just as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was also nowhere near the Eagle Square Abuja for the parade.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen; and former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon were in attendance.
Saraki and Dogara recently left the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
After the ceremonial parade comprising of the Armed Forces, police and other para-military agencies, there was also a parade of the nation’s military hardware as well as air displays.
A photo exhibition depicting Nigerian history and an independence day dinner are also slated for today as part of the ceremonies to mark the 58th Independence anniversary celebrations.
Saraki and Dogara did not send any representations neither was there a word from them on why they were absent at such a national event even as efforts to speak with the spokesperson of Saraki, Yusuph Olaniyonu, were unsuccessful as his phone number could not be reached.
However, the spokesperson of Mr Dogara, Turaki Hassan, said he has no idea if his boss was invited to the event or why he is not attending.
“Actually, I am out of Abuja and I don’t know what is happening there,” Hassan said.
While Saraki is one of the aspirants to the office of president in the 2019 election, Dogara is seeking re-election as a member of the House of Representatives.
