Three Military officers were rushed out of the military parade ground at Eagle Square on Monday as the three officers slumped after waiting for hours for President Muhammadu Buhari to inspect the guards as part of activities to commemorate this year June 12, Democracy Day celebration.
The 2022 Democracy Day celebration is also the last before the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2023.
“Having stood for hours on one spot under the scorching sun, they were believed to have succumbed to exhaustion.
“Our correspondent who was at the scene observed a bit of confusion as some security and medical personnel rushed to the parade ground with stretchers and whisked the collapsed colleagues to the medical shed on the left side of the State Box where the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was seated.
“However, no casualties were recorded as they were successfully treated and soon regained consciousness”, Punch reports.
It was gathered that the three military officers were quickly attended to, within the Eagle Square while President Muhammadu Buhari inspected the guards.
Thereafter, a slow and quick march pass was performed by men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and Nigeria Police Force.
Nigerian Army Female Corps took a shine at the military parade as they performed a combat display.
Also, traditional dance performance from various ethnic groups entertained guests and other participants at the ceremony.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, Service Chiefs, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Youth Corps Members and former Cabinet Member under President Yar’Adua, Babagana Kingibe were in attendance.
“The Master of Ceremony at the occasion during the photo session invited Kingibe, whom he introduced as former Vice President to be part of a group photograph with President Buhari, Jonathan, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chief Justice of the Federation, Ibrahim Tanko, and the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu.
“Despite being Abiola’s running mate, Kingibe betrayed the late politician and abandoned the struggle even while he was alive.
“Abiola had said he was persuaded by his friends and political supporters to pick him as his running mate because of his political clout in the North and closeness to Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who was the Deputy Head of State in the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Unfortunately, as the plot for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate thickened, Kingibe changed camp and ensured that Hope ‘93 was not just deferred but completely dashed.
“He served as foreign minister under Sani Abacha, the same dictator who arrested and jailed Abiola with whom he ran on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“Abiola would later regret choosing Kingibe over Dan Suleiman, a retired air commodore and former military governor from the then Middle Belt.
“Abiola referred to Suleiman as a ‘complete gentleman’.
“MKO said he did know that his running mate had “extensive connections and relationship” with the security agencies and the military high command.
“Kingibe contributed to the abortion of the third republic.
“He was later honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari with Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) solely because of being Abiola’s running mate.
“An honour many Nigerians have said he does not deserve”, according to SaharaReporters.
