Ebun Olowu
Many Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions on social media as pigeons released by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja, on Friday, January 15, 2021 refused to fly.
In a footage by Channels Television, President Buhari was seen opening the cage packed with the birds, picked up one of the birds and threw it into the air. The bird, however, landed on the cage and refused to fly. He subsequently took off the cover of the cage to free the entire birds but they refused to fly and only ended up sitting on the cage.
Some Nigerians described the refusal of the birds to fly as a sign that there is no peace in the country.
Reacting, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, tweeted: “The pigeons will at least not be attacked for their effective civic disobedience. They will also not be told by scoundrels of patriotism to relocate just because they pointed out evident facts of Bad Governance in their country. Thank God for small mercies.”
Femi Fani-Kayode @realFFK tweeted: “When the white doves of peace refuse to fly and when the white pigeons of the Villa fail to leave their cage it is an ominous sign and a bad omen. Buhari beware the ides of March!”
@iamwizdaniel7 tweeted: @Pigeons na spirit especially white once ..they are so special…them can’t be betrayed cos they are not human beings.. There’s no Single peace in the Land. Finally the man holding them is not Buhari”.
@HenshawBlaZe tweeted: “Awon iyami & eleye no happy with Buhari, na why pigeons no gree fly”.
@Laide__ tweeted: “Lmao, Remembrance day Buhari pigeons no gree fly as pigeon self no believe say peace and unity de Nigeria”.
@Mhizta_Bush tweeted: “Insecurity everywhere, even pigeons 🕊 dey fear to fly, as dem see Buhari, fear catch dem”.
@isiomanb tweeted: “There’s no peace in Nigeria. There’s no progress being made. And there’s no harmony among us. So the pigeons refused to fly. Unbothered and unhinged, Buhari didn’t hesitate to leave the birds. Like he does with Nigeria and Nigerians”.
January 15 has become a commemorative date in the history of Nigeria. It not only marks the date of the first military coup that toppled the First Republic, it also marks the date the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War of 1967 to 1970 officially ended. It also in a very significant way marks the commemoration of the Armed Forces Day also called Remembrance Day. The Remembrance Day is dedicated to remembering men and women who laid down their lives in defence of the country.
