The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has explained why the pigeons released during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abuja last week by the President refused to fly.
Recall that the President caused a buzz on social media last week after the pigeons refused to fly despite several attempts.
Many Nigerians on the Internet described the incident as a “bad omen”, while others said the pigeons refused to fly because of the insecurity in the nation.
In an article titled: “Reflection from a wreath-laying ceremony,” Adesina described the pigeons’ refusal to fly as “a natural phenomenon”.
He said in part in the article: “Now, something for those who twist my every word, turn it upside down, to generate hatred.
“Something for them to wail about.
“The release of the pigeons.
“At every Armed Forces Remembrance Day, after the laying of the wreaths, the sitting President releases some pigeons, to symbolise peace in the land.
“Emblems of National harmony.
“It was not different last Friday.
“The pigeons had been kept in a cage.
“For how long, I do not know.
“And when birds and some other roaming animals have been circumscribed for a while, they get accustomed to their new status as lawful captives.
“Therefore, when you offer them freedom, they first baulk, thinking it’s too good to be true.
“It’s a natural phenomenon.
“President Buhari opened the cage that held the pigeons, about a score or so.
“One hesitated, then flew, followed by another.
“The others temporised a bit.
“And then, two, three minutes later, they all took to the sky.
“Nothing extraordinary in the development, you would think.”
