BEVERLY HILLS, October 01, (THEWILL) – Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were both absent at Eagle Square Abuja where the nation’s 58th Independence anniversary parade was held.
Since 2015, this is the first time that both men would miss the programme orgamised on an annual basis.
Present at the parade are President Muhammadu Buhari; his vice, Yemi Osinbajo; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.
Saraki and Dogara fell out with the government of Buhari and subsequently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was also absent at the event attended by two former military leaders: Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.).
On arrival at the venue, Buhari first took the national salute before moving to inspect the parade in a motorcade.
He later returned to the VIP stand to join Osinbajo, Onnoghen, Gowon, Abdulsalami and other dignitaries.
