• President-elect gets baton of service, transition documents
• Buhari confers GCFR on Tinubu, GCON on Shettima
• President: after a good race, I have passed the baton
President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday began his final movement to Aso Villa, the seat of government.
He reflected on the weight of responsibility on his shoulders as he received the baton of service and transition documents from outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari during an impressive ceremony at the State House, Abuja.
Tinubu was conferred with the highest national award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.
Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima received the second highest national award of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON).
The awards are statutory parts of the transition of the two top officials of government into power.
On previous occasions, such honours were conferred on the new President and Vice President after taking the oath of office. Yesterday’s action by President Buhari, coming four days before the inauguration, is a departure from the tradition.
The President-elect, who paid tribute to President Buhari as a democrat, said he understood the magnitude of tasks ahead, assuring that he will not disappoint Nigerians.
An elated Buhari, who reviewed his two-term tenure of eight years, said he had run a good race, adding that it was time to pass the baton.
He said: “I have run my course. I am happy that I am handing over to competent hands.”
Shettima, who also expressed gratitude to the President, said Tinubu and himself do not have the luxury of time, stressing that they must hit the ground running.
After the ceremony, outgoing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo joined the President, Tinubu and Shettima on a familiarisation tour of the Villa.
The investiture of national honours at the State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa, was part of the activities marking the transition.
On Monday, Tinubu will be inaugurated at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, the President-elect said his election to lead the over 200 million Nigerians was the goodwill that came from a place of trust.
He said: “I am a simple man who is the beneficiary of the support and goodwill of the people of Nigeria.
“The people have put their trust in us. You have done your part Mr. President.
“Now, that great duty descends on me. I understand the meaning of the honour given to me today and of the task that awaits.
“I must run this race and must do it well. On security, the economy, agriculture, jobs, education, health and power and in all other sectors we must make headway. The people deserve no less. In this, I shall disappoint neither them nor you, Mr. President.”
Tinubu, who said Nigeria’s path may not always be smooth, expressed faith in the country’s purpose and collective ability to overcome challenges.
He said: “Our way shall not always be smooth. Yet we are imbued with faith in our purpose and a firm belief in our collective ability to overcome the challenges that confront us.”
The President-elect commended President Buhari’s unwavering commitment to the progressive ethos and good governance, noting that as a leader, he took courageous decisions when others shied away.
He specifically thanked him for designating June 12 as Democracy Day and honouring the late Chief Moshood Abiola with the GCFR, a decision other presidents failed to take.
Tinubu said: “President Buhari, you have shown courage in taking tough decisions others avoided.
“One such decision was to recognise the injustice of the annulment of the 1993 election, to designate June 12 as Democracy Day, and to bestow the nation’s highest honour on the late MKO Abiola.
“As much as anyone could, you reached back into history to set the record straight and heal a festering wound.
“The justice you did in this matter lends special meaning to today.”
The President-elect also expressed his gratitude to President Buhari for bestowing the nation’s highest honours on him and Vice President-elect Shettima.
He also thanked him for the transition documents and the diligent work performed by the transition council, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha.
While acknowledging the comprehensive scorecard presented in the transition documents, he said: “The documents summarise the immense work of your administration. They constitute an impressive and noteworthy scorecard.”
He emphasised that the ceremony exemplified Nigeria’s vibrant and true democracy, where one leader honours his successor and ensures a smooth transition of power.
“This stately occasion is living evidence that Nigeria is a vibrant and true democracy,” Tinubu said.
The President, who said he had done his part in steering the ship of the country to success, expressed confidence in Tinubu’s capacity.
He said: “I would like now to express my deepest gratitude to the Nigerian people for their unwavering support and trust throughout my tenure as President.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve this great nation, and I am confident that Nigeria is in capable hands as we embark on this new chapter.”
The President congratulated the President-elect and Vice pPresident-elect, who had served as governor of Lagos and Borno states, respectively.
He said: “I extend my warmest congratulations to the President-elect, on his well-deserved victory at the February 25th, 2023 Presidential elections.
“The Nigerian people have recognised your leadership qualities, political acumen, and passion to serve our great nation, and have entrusted you with the burden of governing our beloved country.
“I have no doubt that Nigeria will continue to thrive and achieve new heights under your leadership. You were the best candidate at the elections and Nigerians have chosen wisely.
“I equally extend my congratulations to the Vice President-elect. Your wealth of experience in governance, your unwavering commitment to the well-being of the Nigerian people, and your exemplary leadership during challenging times as Governor of Borno State, have made you a deserving candidate for this position. I have full confidence that you will serve our nation with utmost dedication and integrity.”
On the awards, President Buhari said: “In accordance with the Honours Award Act, 1963, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, (LFN), 2004, Presidents/Heads of State receive the Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) while the Vice Presidents are awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
“Today, with the authority vested in me, as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have conferred the National Honour of GCFR on His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that of the GCON on His Excellency Kashim Shettima respectively.”
Urging Tinubu to brace for the tasks ahead, Buhari said: “As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, let us not forget the immense responsibilities that come with leadership.
“The challenges facing our nation are significant, and it is the duty of the President and Vice President to address them with courage, wisdom, and compassion.
“We must remain committed to the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability, as these are the foundations upon which our nation’s progress and development rely.”
President Buhari noted that Tinubu had the experience and capacity to lead the country and build on the legacy of his administration.
“President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you have a long and illustrious track record of public service, marked by your exceptional achievements in various capacities.
“Your transformative leadership in Lagos State, where you left an indelible mark in the areas of infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic development, speaks volumes about your dedication to the welfare of the Nigerian people.”
President Buhari expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their unwavering support and trust throughout his tenure.
He added: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve this great nation, and I am confident that Nigeria is in capable hands as we embark on this new chapter.’’
While examining some of the challenges before the incoming administration, President Buhari advised Asiwaju Tinubu to lead the country with wisdom, courage, and compassion.
Transition council institutionalised
To avoid a repeat of the 2015 experience, the President said Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 had been signed, establishing the legal framework for conducting presidential transitions at the federal level.
He said the Executive Order establishes the Presidential Transition Council chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Ministerial Transition Teams headed by the Permanent Secretaries.
President Buhari explained that the primary responsibility of the two ad-hoc bodies was to ensure that every piece of information that will help a new administration get off to a speedy start was made available in a usable format and in a timely manner.
“Today, I am so proud to have handed over to you my successor, Your Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, three key documents that will guide you as you aim to define a path for your administration.
“It is my earnest desire that you will find these documents useful as this would be the first time in the history of this country that such detailed documentation will be produced for handover to a new administration.
“I strongly encourage you to uphold this legacy and make the experience even better for your successor by the time you are to leave office.
“It may also interest you to know that apart from these three documents, all the ministries and their agencies have also prepared their handover notes, ready to brief their new political leadership.
“I want to sincerely thank the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and his team for this great feat,’’ he further stated.
On the transfer of a symbolic baton to Asiwaju Tinubu, President Buhari said the incoming government would continue with the race of advancing democracy and development.
He added: “This is a first in the history of our nation’s transition process. To preserve this remarkable history for generations to come, I have directed that the baton be preserved in the Presidential history wing of the National Archives and I hope that President-elect Tinubu and those after him will build on this tradition.”
Before the investiture ceremony, the SGF spoke on the transition documents, which, he said included three documents – notes on each of the nine priority areas of the outgoing administration’s focus, a compendium of the Federal Government’s priority programmes and projects and the status of policies implemented.
The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, noted that the February 25 presidential poll had been adjudged the most credible in the history of Nigeria, adding that the credit for the process must go to President Buhari.
Guests at the ceremony included Senate President Ahmad Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Shettima: we must hit the ground running
Shettima assured Nigerians that the incoming administration will hit the ground running.
The Vice President-elect, who spoke with reporters, said: “I believe President Tinubu will hit the ground running from day one. He does not have the luxury of time.
“I will be the Vice President I don’t want to be presumptuous; I don’t want to make a loud proclamation but my interaction with him has shown that we will hit the ground running from day one.”
Speaking on his visit to the Vice President, he said: “At the instance of the Vice President, who is a friend, a contemporary, I came here just to exchange ideas on how to move the nation forward.
“He took me round the offices out of courtesy and I want to commend him. I want to thank him for extending that courtesy to me. Yes, cross-fertilisation of ideas.”
On his investiture with the GCON, he said: “It was a historical experience, a humbling experience. We are what we are not because of our intellect, not because of our physical prowess, not because of our pedigree or political sagacity. It’s just a gift from God to humanity, four years or eight years in this time.
“I believe it is a humbling experience, a call to national duty and by God’s grace we need the support of all of you, especially the media to succeed. So, I wish to implore all of you to join us in building a new Nigeria.”
