The inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari will linger in the minds of residents of the Federal Capital Territory for a long time to come in view of the many thrills and frills at the ceremony,including the followings:
Tight security
Except Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Heads of State and visiting Heads of Government/ Representatives, no dignitary was allowed to ride into the Eagle Square in his car. All guests, artistes and journalists were conveyed in buses to the inauguration venue from some designated points. This was with a cost: boarding effected after thorough frisking. It was a day the rich entered rickety buses in Abuja called “El-Rufai.” They were groaning but security agents turned deaf ears.
Jonathan’s last minutes drama
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s arrival at the Eagle Square created anxiety with some fearing that the event might not take place after all. Jonathan who was scheduled to arrive the venue at 9.50am kept President Muhammadu Buhari and other dignitaries in suspense till 10.15am. A guest said: “My heart went blank when Jonathan did not show up at 9.50am, I thought he had changed his mind.” Dressed in a black Ijaw attire and his trade mark Fedora hat to match, Jonathan strode in leisurely in a motorcade led by horse riders. Unlike Jonathan, ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo came on the dot at 9.40am.
Seven past Nigerian leaders witness Buhari’s swearing-in
Apart from Jonathan,six other former military/civilian leaders were in attendance at the swearing-in.
They are Chief Olusegun Obasanjo;General Ibrahim Babangida; Alhaji Shehu Shagari; General Abdulsalam Abubakar; Chief Earnest Shonekan and General Yakubu Gowon.
Outgoing ministers shun inauguration
No member of ex-President Jonathan’s Federal Executive Council was at yesterday’s inauguration of President Buhari.
The inauguration committee was headed and packaged by the immediate Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim. Findings revealed that all the former ministers were duly invited. The fear of probe is the beginning of wisdom?
Loyal to the end
But it was a different story at the the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,Abuja,where the ex-ministers gathered to bid their boss, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife,Dame Patience, farewell to Otuoke.
Fact-Sheet
26 officers and 320 men of the Armed Forces and the Police were on parade.
Buhari arrived the Eagle Square at about 9.54 am clad in a milk coloured babariga and was sworn in at about 10.50 am by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed assisted by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Ahmed Gambo Saleh.
The national flag and defence flag were lowered at 10.57 am, marking the end of the Jonathan era as the President and Commander-In- Chief of the Armed Forces and handed over to him by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, while a new national flag and defence flag were hoisted marking the commencement of the Buhari era as the President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Youths defy security barricade
Youths who were initially prevented from getting close to the Eagle Square defied the water tight security around the area.They refused to leave and chose to sing and dance around,waving the broom; APC’s symbol. Their presence scared many guests but security agents were up to the task.
MC’s costly slip
The Masters of the Ceremony(MC) failed to introduce or acknowledge the presence of many of the guests.
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