The refusal of the white pigeons released by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony to take flight has sparked controversy on social media.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is usually observed in Nigeria on the 15th of January. Per custom, a ceremony held today at the National Arcade, Eagle Square in Abuja.
The ceremony was attended by the President of the Federation, Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other government officials.
As is the ritual, white pigeons are placed in a cage and the President is expected to set the birds free, symbolizing unity and peace and security in the country.
However, during the ceremony today, President Buhari released the pigeons but they refused to fly into the air even after several attempts were made to make them fly.
Watch the video shared online by ChannelsTV below,
Some Nigerians have opined that the action of the birds is a figurative representation of the state of the nation.
See some of the reactions below,
