World leaders in Abuja for Nigeria’s Presidential Inauguration
Highlights of today’s ceremony at Eagle Square
BY ORIAKU IJELE
All is set for the formal swearing-in of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Number 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As expected of an event of this magnitude, the Eagle Square is resplendent with activities and dignitaries from around the word with topnotch security arrangement, which started three days ago ahead of today’s event.
Daily Times checks confirmed that those present are mainly from Africa apart from the delegation sent by the American President, Joe Biden.
The Rwandan government also announced the arrival of President Paul Kagame in Abuja to attend the handover ceremony.
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Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has also reportedly arrived for the ceremony.
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday, complete his eight-year tenure and handover to Tinubu, the president-elect.
Highlights of today’s event at Eagle Square are:
• The official swearing-in ceremony will take place at Eagle Square in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
• The outgoing President and his Vice will take their last salutes.
• The Chief Justice will administer the oath of office taken by President-elect Tinubu, and will become the new President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• Upon Tinubu’s swearing-in, he will take his first salute and inspect the Guards of Honour.
• The immediate past President will hand over new colours to the new President and instrument of office.
• Tinubu will officially mount the rostrum to give his Inauguration speech — the norm since the inauguration of the late Prime Minister, Sir. Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa.
• The theme for the inauguration is, ‘Nigeria: Better Together’.
• A handful of world leaders, including Heads of State, will to grace the inauguration of the President-elect.
• Also expected at the nation’s seventh transition ceremony are past presidents, diplomats, heads of international organisations and prominent Nigerians and representatives of foreign governments and agencies.
• There will also be a post-inauguration luncheon strictly for the President with his colleague Presidents, Heads of Government and guests at the State House Banquet Hall after the inauguration ceremony.
So far, six individuals have had this privilege under pure democratic setting. The six presidents are: Nnamdi Azikiwe (1963-1966); Shehu Shagari (1979-1983); Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007); Umaru Musa Yar’adua (2007-2009); Goodluck Jonathan (2009-2015) and Muhammadu Buhari (2015-2023).
