Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has to be sworn in as the 16th president of Nigeria, following his victory in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
The former Lagos State governor will take the oath of office today at Eagle Square in Abuja, the nation’s capital, in the presence of dignitaries from within and outside the country.
Tinubu, who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated 17 other candidates, including his main challengers, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
His inauguration marks the seventh consecutive democratic transition of power in Nigeria since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
Tinubu faces the daunting task of addressing the myriad of challenges confronting Africa’s most populous nation, such as insecurity, economic recession, inflation, corruption, and social unrest.
He has promised to live up to the expectations of Nigerians and uphold the theme of his transition: “Nigeria: Better Together”.
“I thank all of you here, present, brothers and sisters celebrating with us, for us to take away what lessons Nigeria’s democracy taught the rest of Africa if not part of the world. The frenzy, determination, courage and love in diversity.
“By tomorrow afternoon (today), my predecessor (President Buhari) is heading to Daura on the border of Niger and I told him don’t worry; you will still get enough on your door.
“No matter how short a man is, he will see the sky; I will be able to find you when I need your help. Here is a country that has stumbled a number of times but would never falter. We can be squeaky like old mama’s car but we would never break apart. We are just a unique country.
“We must fight corruption, poverty, inconsistency in policies and many other problems confronting us. But don’t pity me, I asked for the job, I campaigned for it, no excuses. I will live up to the bill. I promise you,” Tinubu said.
World leaders grace occasion
Tinubu’s inauguration was witnessed by about 20 presidents and heads of government from around the world, especially in Africa.
Some of them include Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau and Mahamat Déby of Chad.
Others are Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, and King Charles’ Special Envoy from the United Kingdom.
The United States delegation was led by Marcia L. Fudge, US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; while India sent its Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as a Special Envoy.
Other countries that sent representatives include Canada, Turkey, China and Qatar.
Meanwhile, similar inauguration ceremonies took place in 28 states across Nigeria where new governors were sworn in.
The states are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River and Delta.
Others are Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states.
Sixteen of them are from the APC; 10 from the PDP; one from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and one from the Labour Party (LP).
Brand new governors would be sworn-in in 18 states, where the governors have served out their two terms. The states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.
Sixteen of the governors to be inaugurated today are of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Uba Sani (Kaduna), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Umar Namadi (Jigawa).
Similarly, 10 state governors on the platform of the PDP will take charge today. They are Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Siminialayi Fubara (Rivers), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa).
Abba Kabir of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) will be sworn in as governor of Kano State, while Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) will be inaugurated as the chief executive of Abia.
The new governors are expected to implement policies that would improve the living standards of their people and complement Tinubu’s agenda at the federal level.
