Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and his Kwara State counterpart, Abdullahi Ahmed, yesterday cancelled all forms of fanfare as well as stadium parades usually held on Independence Day celebrations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayose in a broadcast said there was nothing to celebrate in view of the economic situation in the country.

“I do not think it is proper to engage in jamboree when it is almost becoming increasingly difficult to pay workers’ salaries. The current situation demands sober reflection from all and we cannot pretend about this,” he said.

The governor ordered residents to stay at home and enjoy the celebration in low-key.

NAN reports that as a result of the governor’s order, the usual activities associated with the celebration were absent in most parts of Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

However, there were few places where pockets of activities were organised by individuals or corporate bodies.

News Express reports that a similar situation played out in Kwara, with the State Government citing insecurity as the reason for cancelling all activities usually associated with such events as Nigeria marked 55 years of independence from Britain.

•Photo shows Gov. Fayose.