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Presentation of
Hand over notes to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, State House, Thursday May
28 #Transition. (Image source: Abati on Twitter)
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Everything seemed to be set for
the inauguration as the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari who travelled to the
United Kingdom last Friday returned to Nigeria early this morning in company of
some of his aides ahead of his inauguration as President and Commander-In-Chief
of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria on Friday, May 29.
President-elect,
Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday received the hand over notes from the outgoing
President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.
The
presentation was done inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa,
Abuja, shortly after Jonathan conducted Buhari round the seat of power.
Vice President Namadi Sambo had also similarly conducted the Vice
President-elect, Yemi Osinbajo, round his wing of the villa.
He
presented an executive summary of his hand over notes and a copy of the National
Conference report to Buhari in the presence of All Progressives Congress chiefs
who witnessed the event.
The
outgoing President, who spoke after the presentation, said his administration
had done its best for the country.
On
his part, the President-elect said he would not make an official statement
until after studying the handover notes. He commended Jonathan for
conceding defeat in the March 28 presidential election.
PM
NEWS gathered that Buhari and some of his aides arrived for the tour of the
Presidential Villa at exactly 11:00 am scheduled time and was holding a meeting
with the outgoing President his office preparatory to the commencement of the
tour as at the time of filing in this story.
The
tour is expected to be followed by inauguration dinner to be attended by the
President elect, members of the diplomatic corps, the outgoing President and
members of his cabinet among others later this evening.
The
inauguration is gradually bringing life back to Abuja where social economic
activities have been at very low ebb for some weeks now as a result of
persistent scarcity of petroleum products.
Already,
the Eagle Square venue of the inauguration has been a beehive of activities
with the military perfecting their parades and other preparations for the
various activities they will be engaged in during the inauguration.
Nigeria
flags have been mounted on electricity polls in the capital city to signify the
momentous occasion which will be attended by over 50 world leaders.
John
Kerry, the United States Secretary of State who is leading the delegation from
his country is expected to arrive in Abuja with members of his delegation.
President
Barack Obama has last week released the list of the White House delegation
which included Nigerian, basketball star, Hakeem Olajuwon.
Other
members of the presidential delegation include Hon. James F. Entwistle, U.S.
Ambassador to Nigeria, Department of State, Hon Linda Thomas-Greenfield,
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State, and
General David M. Rodriguez, Commander, U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) Others
are Hon. Grant T. Harris, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director
for African Affairs, National Security Council. Reports indicated that the US
delegation is expected to arrive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja in the afternoon.
Also
expected at the inauguration is President Alpha Condé of Guinea who is already
in Nigeria, while Chinese President Xi Jumping’s Special Envoy, Agriculture
Minister Han Changfu, will lead the delegation from China to attend the
inauguration as announced by the Asian Foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua
Chunying, on Tuesday.
President
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is also expected to arrive in Abuja for the
inauguration today.
Chairman
of the Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the Presidential Inauguration
Planning Committee, Chief Edem Duke, had revealed that over 50 Presidents and
Heads of Government are expected in Abuja for the inauguration. Solomon Arase,
the Inspector General of Police on Wednesday ordered his men to deploy tight
security at the Eagle Square, hotels, key and vulnerable places within the
capital city ahead of the inauguration.
In
the same vein, the Police Chief also directed that Tactical Operation Points be
mounted on all roads leading into and out of the FCT in a statement issued on
his behalf in Abuja yesterday by the Force Spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu. On its
part, the Federal Road Safety Corps said it has deployed 23,000 personnel to
designated routes during the swearing-in.
According
to the Commission, over 150 patrol vehicles, 15 ambulances, 35 motorbikes and
seven towing trucks have been deployed to designated routes of Abuja as part of
measures to ensure seamless traffic flow in Abuja during the inauguration
ceremony.
FRSC
added that it has also strengthened its collaboration with other security
agencies along the Gwagwalada, Nyanya, Zuba, Lugbe and Kubwa corridor through
routine patrols and rescue services in addition to traffic control on major
intersections of the city.
Sources:
The NATION, The PUNCH, PMNEWS
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