Some Nigerian bikers, under the aegis of the Rider’s Embassy, on Sunday rode across major streets of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to mark the country’s 57th Independence anniversary.
Dozens of bikers on assorted motorcycles, holding the Nigerian green-white-green flag, took off from Unity Fountain and rounded off their ride with the hoisting of the Abuja’s largest Nigerian flag at a park in Utako District.
Earlier, one of the organisers of the event, Abubakar Abdullahi, who spoke to reporters before dozens of bikers stormed the streets, said the event was organised to foster unity among Nigerian youths.
He noted that the increasing call for the nation’s break-up from different quarters was being fuelled by people’s frustration.
Abdullahi said, “As we all know, Nigeria recently has been witnessing an increase in calls for its division from different angles across the country. These calls have mostly been the expressions of fellow Nigerians who are fed up with the ways things have been in the country; the injustice, the neglect, inequality, corruption, failed promises, very slow pace of development and the overall sense of frustration from the fact that things have not been the way they are supposed to, are responsible for the calls.”
He said members of the group identified with many of these grievances.
He said, “Nigeria is not what we all want it to be by any stretch; a lot of work needs to be done and a lot of wrongs need to be corrected to get us there.
“However, while members of this group agree that these grievances are legitimate, we also believe that some demands or solutions are not; and that includes the call for the division of Nigeria.
“On the contrary, we believe that a more united Nigeria is what we need to address these problems. This is the motivation behind coming up with this event.
“This group believes that the country is better as a united people. We ride against hate, against injustice, against tyranny, corruption and we ride for peace, justice, development and for the unity of Nigeria.”
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