Global attention shifts to the world’s most populous black
nation on the planet, Nigeria, where the country’s fifth
democratically elected president, Muhammadu Buhari, will
be inaugurated on Friday (today).
Contrary to speculations, indications emerged on Thursday
that the outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, will attend
the historic occasion which would mark the first time a
sitting president would hand over power to a victorious
challenger.
The event expected to be witnessed by many world leaders
will take place at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the nation’s hilly
capital city.
As of the last count, no fewer than 20 world leaders have
flown into the country in readiness to attend the ceremony.
Activities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,
peaked on Thursday as Presidents and representatives
from many countries landed at the facility and were
subsequently driven to their various hotels.
The PUNCH learnt that Jonathan, whose administration had
earlier expressed the wish to hand over power to Buhari a
day before the May 29 official date, has decided to attend
the event in demonstration of his sportsmanship.
It was gathered that the outgoing President would fly the
flagship of the presidential fleet codenamed “Nigerian Air
Force 001” or “Eagle One” in an official capacity as
President for the last time today.
After the inauguration, the aircraft will fly Jonathan to the
Port Harcourt Airport, Rivers State, from where he is
expected to be flown in a helicopter to Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State, en route a homeward journey in a convoy of cars to
Otuoke, his hometown.
Speculations were rife that Jonathan might shun the
inauguration ceremony owing to the acrimony that greeted
the election.
But a top Presidency official, who pleaded anonymity, told
our correspondent that Jonathan would attend the event.
He said if Jonathan failed to attend the event, he might end
up portraying himself as a bad loser despite the fact that he
conceded defeat to Buhari shortly after the election.
The official, however, expressed the hope that the leaders
of the All Progressives Congress would prevail on their
supporters not to do anything to humiliate the outgoing
President at the event.
The official said, “Immediately after the inauguration, the
outgoing President will travel to his state on Air Force 001
for the last time.
“As a former President, any of the smaller aircraft in the
presidential fleet can be made available to him on request,
but not the 001. The only reason why he can fly that aircraft
again is either if he becomes the President again or if he is
to accompany a sitting President on a trip.”
Jonathan out, Buhari in
Jonathan is leaving office after a five-year stint as the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Jonathan, who became the President in May 2010 following
the death of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, finished the
one year remaining in his former boss’ administration and
went ahead to contest the 2011 presidential election which
he won.
He contested the March 28 presidential election but his re-
election bid was thwarted by Nigerians who chose
Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.
Jonathan and his handlers believe that as he is bowing out
of office, he is leaving a legacy that is unparalleled in the
nation’s history.
The government’s programmes were centered on what he
called Agenda for National Transformation.
His administration prided itself as having succeeded in the
areas of electoral reform, revamping of the railway system,
remodelling of airports, privatisation of power sector,
agriculture, and rule of law, among others.
Critics of Jonathan are, however, of the opinion that his
administration aided corruption and impunity.
This has fuelled the calls on Buhari to probe the outgoing
administration, especially the oil sector, where the
allegation of missing funds was rife.
Buhari will be taking his Oath of Allegiance and Oath of
Office today before Nigerians and friends of the nation with
a burden to run his government differently in accordance
with his party’s “change” mantra.
10 world leaders arrive for inauguration
It was learnt that before 5pm on Thursday, the aircraft of
over 10 African countries had touched down at the tarmac
of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Our correspondent gathered that the two recently
inaugurated lounges for pilots and international protocol
officers located close to the international wing of the
airport, were beehives of activities as some guests were
received at the new facilities.
Officials at the NAIA stated that the Presidents of the
different nations were sighted at the presidential wing of the
airport while countries, whose Heads of State could not
show up, sent representatives.
The flags of the visiting countries were displayed on the
airplanes.
“Some of the countries whose Presidents or representatives
are now in Nigeria include Mali, Sudan, South Africa,
Namibia, Chad, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Senegal, the
Gambia and Guinea,” an official of NAIA said.
The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, was sighted at
the airport, according to our source, who added that the
advance teams of France and the United States were on the
ground as of the time of filing this report.
The official stated that the flight of the US government was
scheduled to land around 3am on Friday.
Our source said, “Other countries whose Presidents or
representatives also arrived Abuja airport on Thursday
included Togo, Angola, Lesotho, France, Ghana, Turkey,
United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. More are
still coming, going by the manifest that we have.”
Obama sends Kerry, Olajuwon
The United States President Barrack Obama has detailed
the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, including basketball
icon and Olympic Gold medallist, Hakeem Olajuwon, to the
inauguration. Other members of the delegation are the U.S.
Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, and the Assistant
Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State,
Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Also in the delegation are Commander, U.S. Africa
Command, General David Rodriguez, and the Special
Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African
Affairs, National Security Council, Grant Harris.
Court dismisses bid to stop Buhari’s inauguration
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday
dismissed an application seeking to stop the inauguration.
A non-governmental organisation, Advocacy for Societal
Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, had on
Tuesday filed a suit as well as an ex parte application
seeking an interim injunction restraining the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, from inaugurating
Buhari on Friday.
The application was adjourned till Thursday for hearing
following the failure of the representative of the plaintiff or
its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, to show up in court on
Wednesday when the application was initially fixed for
hearing.
After hearing the plaintiff’s lawyer on Thursday, Justice
Ahmed Mohammed, dismissed the application for lacking in
merit.
He held that the urgency which the application was
predicated on was self-induced because the election in
which Buhari emerged as president had held about two
months before the suit was filed.
Justice Ahmed held, “The presidential election in which the
1st defendant (Buhari) emerged winner took place on March
28, 2015; today is May 28. It is now two months the
election took place. Now, I sincerely ask, how can a court
grant an interim injunction on the issue?”
“Where was the plaintiff/applicant before and after the
election? Is it that the applicant did not know about the
presidential election of March 28 or what?
“The inauguration of the 1st defendant will be held
tomorrow (Friday) and the applicant is talking about
urgency.
“This motion ex parte is a clear case of self induced
urgency. Therefore this application is devoid of merit and
accordingly dismissed.”
The judge subsequently adjourned the suit till June 24.
Buhari’s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had earlier asked
the court to hear the application but the request was
rejected.
The court agreed with the plaintiff’s lawyer’s submission
that Order 26 rule 9 of the Federal High Court forbade him
from being heard in such an application filed as an ex
parte.
Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, are
the 1st to the 3rd respondents in the suit respectively.
The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining the CJN from
inaugurating in the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on
Friday, May 29.
The suit also seeks an order nullifying the Certificate of
Return issued to Buhari by INEC.
The plaintiff hinged the suit on the allegation that Buhari did
not qualify to contest the presidential election on the
grounds that he gave a false information about his
academic qualification to INEC.
Between January and February 2015 there were about 10
cases instituted by various plaintiffs challenging Buhari’s
eligibility to stand for the polls on the grounds of his
academic qualification controversy. But after he won, the
cases were withdrawn.
In the fresh suit filed by its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, the
group alleged that Buhari did not meet the qualification
enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to
stand for the March 28, 2015 presidential election.
The plaintiff is seeking an order of interim injunction
restraining the CJN “or any person acting in his capacity”
from swearing in Buhari as President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015 or any other date
thereof pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
Police assure of security
The Nigeria Police Force has assured Nigerians and foreign
dignitaries of adequate security for the inauguration.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in a
telephone interview on Thursday, explained that the police
had deployed an anti-bomb squad as well as thousands of
riot and conventional policemen nationwide.
According to him, operatives had been dispatched to
various strategic parts of Abuja, including vulnerable areas,
hotels and shopping plazas to ensure a hitch-free
transition.
He said, “Our men are on the ground nationwide to ensure
a successful inauguration programme in Abuja and the
states. The different squads and units have been deployed
and we want to assure Nigerians and our international
guests that adequate manpower has been deployed and the
security of everyone is guaranteed.”
When asked to give the number of personnel that would be
on duty for the inauguration, Ojukwu declined, saying he
could not do that for strategic security reason.
“I can’t give you the number of personnel that we have
deployed, but I can tell you that adequate manpower had
been deployed nationwide to protect lives and property and
to ensure a smooth inauguration ceremony,” the
spokesman stated.
NSCDC deploys 55,000 operatives
In a related development, the Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps said it had deployed 5,000 officials in the
Federal Capital Territory and 50,000 others across the
states.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Okeh, told
our correspondent that sniffer dogs and surveillance
vehicles would be on duty throughout the period of the
inauguration.
He said, “We are deploying 55,000 personnel nationwide as
well as sniffer dogs and other units. Five thousand
operatives would be on duty in the FCT while the rest would
work in the states in collaboration with our sister agencies.”
Abuja hotels
Meanwhile, the major hotels in Abuja have been playing
host to foreign dignitaries and diplomats who are billed to
attend the inauguration.
Foreign visitors including journalists from different
countries were seen checking into the Transcorp Hilton and
Sheraton hotels on Thursday.
As part of measures to make the visitors comfortable, the
Transcorp hotel had reserved two lifts for VIPs.
Respect rule of law, Mark tells Buhari
Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday, urged the
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to adhere strictly to
the rule of law and respect human rights while discharging
his constitutional responsibilities.
He specifically appealed to him to “do the needful for
citizens and anchor his actions on adherence to rule of law,
respect for human rights, freedom of expression, equity and
justice.”
The senate president said he anticipated an egalitarian
society under the new government where all citizens would
be safe and protected to live and carry out their legitimate
duties without fear of molestation or harassment in any part
of Nigeria.
Mark, who stated this in his goodwill message to Nigerians
on the occasion of Democracy Day celebration, also said,
“All hands must be on deck as everyone plays his or her
role to ensure that our democracy endures.”
Punch.
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