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News Analysis: Independence Day Cancellation Sparks Political Tensions and Public Reflection”

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa, Nigerian Tracker Correspondent

As expected, the Federal Government of Nigeria was to facilitate the parade procession at Eagles Square every morning of October 1, celebrating the country’s independence. But it took most Nigerians aback when the President, through his Secretary, George Akume, disclosed that the Independence Day celebration was not going to hold. The announcement was contained in a press statement released by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation:

“The Federal Government wishes to announce the cancellation of the Independence Anniversary parade, previously scheduled to mark the 65th independence on Wednesday, 1st October. The cancellation is in no way a diminishment of the significance of this milestone anniversary,” the statement, as read, was signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen.

The announcement took most Nigerians by surprise because no single reason was mentioned as to why the celebration was cancelled—unlike other cases in which the reason, even though not given, made itself glaring why the celebration couldn’t hold.

Such moments were, first in 1966–1967 during the civil war, which brought chaos into the country. Second was in 1992 when Ibrahim Babangida made such a cancellation announcement in honor of the victims of the Nigerian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules plane crash in Ejigbo, Lagos, in which 159 persons, mainly military officers, lost their lives. Third was in 2010 when the celebration was marred by explosions from two cars parked near Eagles Square, which took the lives of many and injured a few others. Due to the incident, the celebration for the following years did not hold until 2014. Fourth was during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak didn’t allow the celebration to flow as it should have, hence the low-key procession by the late President Buhari at the Villa.

Obviously, the years in which the Independence Anniversary celebration didn’t hold presented themselves with reasons, and those reasons were genuine. So, why did the incumbent President Tinubu cancel the celebration without a reason?

In another development, the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, was accused by the State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, of boycotting the Independence Anniversary celebration in the state by withdrawing police personnel who should have taken part in the procession at the Sani Abacha Stadium, despite his unambiguous instructions to make provision for security for the event.

Out of displeasure, the Governor then called on the President, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, to immediately redeploy the State Police Commissioner for his “unethical” behavior:

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“The Commissioner of Police has embarrassed us by his conduct,” Yusuf said. “His action is unprofessional, unethical, and contrary to what is expected of a security chief on such a historic day for the people of Kano and indeed for Nigeria as a whole.”

He continued, “On behalf of myself as the Chief Security Officer of the state, and the good people of Kano, I call on President Bola Ahmad Tinubu to remove CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, today.”

Since 1960, when the first ceremony was held at the Race Course, now Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, the military parade has become a significant aspect of the Independence Day celebration, with heads of government at various tiers taking the salute as the armed forces, paramilitary outfits, and school children march past. Independence Day was given more relevance by the actions of past leaders, such as when Olusegun Obasanjo, during his military regime, decided to hand over power to civil administration on the 1st of October 1979.

Similarly, the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, added to the relevance of the day when he announced the creation of six new states—Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Zamfara—on October 1, 1996, a pronouncement that brought the number of states in Nigeria to the current 36. These six states have since then celebrated the day as the anniversary of their creation.

Did States Follow Suit in the Cancellation?

The South-East region presented a unique case. Following the federal directive, all five states (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo) officially canceled government-sponsored celebrations. This was largely due to the prevailing socio-political climate in the region, where October 1st is often viewed with ambivalence. The federal cancellation provided a convenient reason to forego an event that typically has low public enthusiasm there.

Cross River State organized a tree-planting exercise to mark the day, framing it as an “investment in Nigeria’s future.” Delta State held a “solemn symposium” on national unity with civil society groups instead of a parade.

In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara presided over a brief flag-raising ceremony at the Government House, attended only by top government functionaries, with no public fanfare. A statement emphasized “the symbolic importance of the day without extravagant spending.”

Bayelsa State government cited the need to redirect resources to flood preparedness and mitigation efforts. Edo State announced a low-key workday and suspended official festivities. Ekiti and Ondo States canceled celebrations and encouraged citizens to engage in community service.

In a nutshell, the federal directive resulted in a largely compliant but politically fractured response. The overwhelming compliance from APC states was anticipated. However, the bold defiance from Kano State—a major political and commercial hub—and the subsequent constitutional crisis over control of the police has become the defining story of the 2025 Independence Day. It demonstrates the potent role of sub-national politics in challenging federal authority and sets a tense precedent for future interactions between the NNPP-led Kano State and the APC-led Federal Government.

The Potent Questions Remain:

1. Was the defiance by the Kano State Governor merely about preserving the relevance of the Independence Day anniversary, or is it a reflection of differences in their political ideologies that might serve as a proxy for larger political battles?
2. Was the President wrong for canceling the celebration without a reason?

On the non participation of Kano police command during the independence parade the force Headquarters is yet to issue a statememt.

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JUST IN: National Assembly to Re-gazette Tax Laws Amid Controversy

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

The National Assembly has directed the Clerk to re-gazette four major tax reform acts and issue Certified True Copies of the versions officially passed by parliament, following public controversy over discrepancies in the published laws.

In a Friday statement, House Spokesman Akin Rotimi said the leadership of both chambers authorized the move to “protect the integrity of the legislative record,” describing it as an administrative step to accurately reflect parliamentary decisions.

The directive addresses growing scrutiny over the Nigeria Tax Act (2025), Nigeria Tax Administration Act (2025), Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act (2025), and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (2025)—particularly concerning harmonization of bills, documentation sent for presidential assent, and the versions eventually published in the Official Gazette.

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Rotimi emphasized that the legislature is addressing the matter within its constitutional authority. Last week, the House formed a seven-member Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the legislative and administrative handling of the acts.

“The Committee, alongside relevant National Assembly bodies, is conducting an institutional review to establish the sequence of events and identify any contributing factors,” he stated, noting the review will examine potential “lapses, irregularities, or external interferences.”

The process, he added, complies fully with the Constitution, the Acts Authentication Act, and parliamentary standing orders.

While the re-gazetting aims to “clear any ambiguity,” Rotimi clarified that the review “does not constitute, imply, or concede any defect in the exercise of legislative authority.” He also stated the action is without prejudice to other arms of government and does not affect existing rights or legal processes.

Reaffirming its commitment to constitutionalism and the rule of law, the House pledged to take “appropriate corrective measures” if procedural refinements are needed.

The public was urged to allow the institutional process to proceed “without speculation or conjecture.”

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Airstrikes: Activist Sowore Decries Reckless Breach of Sovereignty By the U.S Government

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has issued a fierce condemnation of a confirmed U.S. military airstrike inside Nigeria, labeling the action a dangerous breach of sovereignty and an “imperialist move” by President Donald Trump.

Sowore’s warning follows President Trump’s announcement on Truth Social that he had ordered a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS fighters in northwest Nigeria. Trump justified the operation, stating the militants had been “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians” and that he had delivered promised retribution: “there was hell to pay.”

While the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the strike was conducted “at the request of Nigerian authorities,” Sowore argued that direct foreign military intervention is a catastrophic precedent.

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“Nobody should be rejoicing about this,” Sowore stated. “The U.S. could help the Nigerian military, but U.S. military carrying out an attack inside Nigeria is extremely dangerous, reckless, and bad.”

He described the event as “a sad day for the so-called African liberation and Independence.”

The strike triggered panic on the ground in Sokoto State. Residents of Jabo village reported a sudden, loud explosion on Christmas night, with many fearing an imminent attack. “It happened suddenly… The explosion caused fear, but thank God it did not land among people,” one eyewitness said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude for “Nigerian government support & cooperation” and ominously added there would be “more to come.”

The operation marks a sharp and controversial escalation of U.S. counter-terrorism activity in West Africa, raising urgent questions about sovereignty, foreign intervention, and the future of regional security partnerships.

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Nigeria Aides U.S in Sokoto Airstrike Against ISIS

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Donald J. Trump has announced that the United States carried out targeted military strikes against ISIS–affiliated militants in north-west Nigeria, marking a sharp escalation in American counter-terrorism operations in West Africa.

In a late-night statement published on Truth Social, the U.S. President said the operation was conducted under his direct orders as Commander-in-Chief, describing it as “a powerful and deadly strike” aimed at extremist elements responsible for repeated attacks in the region.

According to Mr Trump, the militants had been involved in brutal assaults on local communities, particularly targeting Christian populations. He said he had previously warned the group of consequences if the violence continued.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians… I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” the statement read in part.

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He added that the “Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes,” asserting that the U.S. would not allow extremist groups to flourish under his leadership.

While the President praised the American military, he also issued a stern warning to the militants, saying there would be further consequences if attacks on civilians persisted.

Confirming the development, the Nigerian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that it provided the intelligence needed to the United States government concerning the airstrike.

“In line with established international practice and bilateral understandings, this cooperation includes the exchange of intelligence, strategic coordination, and other forms of support consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty, and shared commitments to regional and global security,” said the ministry.

It further stated that Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.

On the particular location of the strike in the northwestern part of the country, netizens, particularly from Sokoto State, have confirmed that a rocket landed in Jabo Ward, under Tambuwal LG of Sokoto State, Nigeria this same night.

Similarly, the United States Africa Command(AFRICOM), an organization responsible for the United States military operations in the continent, in a series of posts on X, said the airstrikes were launched based on requests of the Nigerian government.

“AFRICOM conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State killing multiple ISIS terrorists. Lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad,” the statement reads.

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