VP Makes History At Armed Forces Remembrance Day Event

PHOTO: VEEPEE GOODLUCK JONATHAN LAYING A WREATH AT THE CEREMONY.

Abuja Jan 15, (THEWILL) – As the controversies surrounding the absence of Nigeria’s President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua continues, the Vice President, Mr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan made history at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja on Friday when he led the wreath laying ceremony, the first by any Vice President in the nation’s history.

The convention is that the President and Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces lay the wreath first before the Vice President takes his turn.

The annual event is held to honour and remember Nigeria's fallen unknown soldiers who gave their lives for the country’s unity and other nations through peace keeping missions abroad.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Daniel Abutu in a judgment that neglected to interpret the constitutional implications of the President’s long absence from his duties ruled this week that the Vice President could perform Presidential duties assigned by the President.

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was evacuated from Abuja to the King Faisal hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 23, 2009.

Nigerians have continued to demand a live video broadcast from the government to prove that he is alive and dispel talks of his passing.

A BBC less than a minute interview clip aired earlier this week failed to convinced majority of Nigerians that all is well with the President. 

See gallery for more pictures from the Armed Forces Day Celebration.