Fubara Cancels Independence Day Parade in Rivers, Gives Reason

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has cancelled the Independence Day parade earlier scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, October 1, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

The cancellation was announced in a statement issued by Sir Dede Sampson Friday of the Special Services Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

According to the statement, the decision was taken in line with the Federal Government’s directive calling off the national parade.

“This is to inform the public that, in line with the pronouncement of the Federal Government, the parade scheduled to hold at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, 1st October, in commemoration of the 65th Independence Day in the state has been cancelled,” the statement read. “We regret any inconvenience caused by this cancellation.”

The Federal Government had earlier announced the suspension of the traditional Independence Day parade across the country. In a statement signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, authorities clarified that the move “is in no way a diminishment of the significance of this milestone anniversary.”

While the parade has been called off, other activities marking the anniversary, including the presidential broadcast, cultural programmes, and the grand finale of the National Campus Debate, will go ahead as planned.