Jonathan to Hand over May 29

The Federal Government has clarified the details of the transition programme with regard to the day it will hand over to the incoming administration of Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).
Briefing State House Correspondents after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, said the processes of handing notes over will be completed on May 28 while the President will hand over to his successor on May 29. This is contrary to her earlier briefing last Wednesday where she said power will change hands on May 28, an announcement that has sparked controversy. The minister, who said yesterday’s meeting centred on the transition programme, denied ever telling reporters that the President would hand over to the President-elect on May 28. She said, “In the council today, the discussion was still centred on transition.
“I have to make a little clarification because some people thought I said May 28 will be handover date. I never said that. “I said May 28 will be the last day that we will have our handing over briefs by ministries and parastatals. I said from the 28th of this month to that date has been given to departments and ministries to submit their handover notes. “I remember somebody asked if there will be no vacuum if there is handover on May 28 and I replied that there will be no handing over on May 28. “Handing over and inauguration will hold on May 29. The President is not handing over power on May 28, he is handing over power on May 29.
“We have started the transition and it is ongoing. We are submitting our handover notes to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. “The President is still the President until May 29 when Gen. Buhari takes his oath of office and resumes as the President of the Federal Republic.” Asked to disclose the reason behind the sack of Suleiman Abba as the Inspector-General of Police, Akwashiki said she had nothing to say because the President had the right to hire and fire. “I think it is within the President’s power to appoint and sack and he did what he had to do,” she said.