Vanguard / Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari opened a new chapter in Nigeria’s history yesterday at his inauguration as the first president to take office from an incumbent with another political party vowing that the democratic credentials laid by his predecessor would be built upon.
At the inauguration witnessed by world leaders and all living former Nigerian leaders, Buhari affirmed his ascension to office put him at the service of all Nigerians pledging he would not be beholden to any private interest.
“I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,” President Buhari said even as he put earlier pledges to deal decisively with the Boko Haram insurgency with the order to relocate the command and control centre fighting the insurgency to Maiduguri.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan was graceful in his exit yesterday. After handing over the instruments of office to his successor, the former president who was without his wife, made a dignified exit in an unmarked vehicle for a reception in Yenogoa, Bayelsa state.
The administration of the oath of office to the vice-president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and President Buhari by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed was preceded by colourful military parade under the command of Lt. Col. Useni Braimah.
The handover commenced in earnest yesterday upon the arrival of Dr Jonathan at about 10.19 a.m. He had been preceded by his deputy, Arc Nnamadi Sambo and then vice-president-elect, Prof Osinbajo.
Upon his arrival Christian and Islamic prayers were respectively offered by Rev (Dr) Israel Akanji, Chairman of the FCT Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, who represented CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and the Deputy Chief Imam of Abuja Central Mosque, Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bakare.
Following that, Lt. Col. Braimah sought permission from President Jonathan to commence the parade and Dr. Jonathan performing his last duty in office, gave the order and the military parade commenced.
Following the parade, Osinbajo with his wife, Dolapo mounted the dais to take the oath of office and oath of allegiance.
He was followed by Buhari who also with his wife, Aisha proceeded to take the same oaths and that was followed by the transfer of a copy of the constitution from Jonathan to Buhari. Jonathan also transferred the instruments of office to his successor. From that point, Jonathan exited the stage following which the military commander who had earlier sought permission from former President Jonathan to commence the parade now sought permission from President Buhari to end the parade.
His ascension into office was marked with the release of pigeons into the air and a 21 gun salute.
The new president then mounted an open roof Mercedez Benz G wagon with which he was driven round the Eagles Square as he acknowledged cheers from well-wishers.
Following that the president then gave his inaugural address at the beginning of which he paid encomiums to former President Jonathan who he said had laid a positive foundation for democracy even as he pledged to build upon it.
In the address, he promised to be a president for all, to administer the country according to the constitution even as he pledged to deal with the challenges posed by corruption, insecurity.
Highlights of President Buhari’s inaugural speech
The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency.
A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.
We have an opportunity. Let us take it.
We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems.
Daunting as the task may be it is by no means insurmountable.
As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country.
With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management
The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued.
We cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.
An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police
We shall overhaul the rules of engagement to avoid human rights violations in operations
Roll call of dignitaries from overseas
- Mr John Kerry-United States Secretary of State
- Jacob Zuma-South African President
- Mrs Ellen Johnson Serleaf—Liberian President
- Robert Mugabe—President of Zimbabwe
- John Mahama—President of Ghana
- Yayaha Djameh—President of Gambia
- Ibrahim Boubacar Keita —President of Mali
- Alpha Condé –President of Guinea
- Ouattara Alassane –President of Cote’d Ivoire
- Paul Biya—President of Cameroon
- Idriss Déby—President of Chad
- Former Nigerian presidents and Heads of State at the occasion
- General Yakubu Gowon
- Alhaji Shehu Shagari
- General Ibrahim Babangida
- General Abdulsalam Abubakar
- Chief Ernest Shonekan
- Chief Olusegun Obasanjo
Other VIPs
- David Mark —Senate President
- Ike Ekweremadu —Deputy Senate President
- Emeka Ihedioha —Acting Speaker, House of Representatives
- Anyim Pius Anyim —Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF
- Atiku Abubakar—Former Vice President
- Chief John Oyegun –APC National Chairman
- Adams Oshiomhole—Edo State governor
- Asiwaju Bola Tinubu—former governor of Lagos State
- Chief Ogbonaya Onu
- Chibuike Ameachi—Immediate past governor of Rivers State
- Senator Osita Izunaso
- George Akume—APC Minority Leader in the Senate
- Senator Bukola Saraki
- Kayode Fayemi—former governor of Ekiti State
- Chief Emeka Anyaoku— former Secretary General to the United Nations
- General T.Y. Danjuma— former Defence Minister
- Alhaji Bamanga Tukur—former PDP chairman.
