President Goodluck Jonathan will on May 28 present detailed hand-over notes to President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari during a dinner.
Earlier in the day, the President will take Gen. Buhari and Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on a familiarization tour of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
These were some of the decisions taken at the Council of State meeting yesterday, the last to be chaired by President Jonathan.
Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu alongside his Benue State counterpart, Gabriel Suswam, said all official documents prepared by the transition committee would be handed over on May 28 while the next day will be strictly for the inauguration and swearing-in of the new President.
According to Suswam, the council discussed the transition and inauguration committees. It said henceforth, the template that had been developed for the smooth transition programme becomes permanent and maintained for subsequent transitions whether or not it is the same party.
According to Aliyu, all is now set for the inauguration as invitations have been sent to all African leaders, the G8 presidents and prime ministers and other multi-lateral organizations, like the United Nations, Commonwealth, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The council warned against keeping invited guests waiting, stating that “invitees must not arrive before the inviter”.
The Niger governor said, “every ministry, department and agency that have worked for the government including all the funds that have been collected, how they have been utilised, the assets and the liabilities of government will all be put together in documents and be handed over to the incoming government. Officially, the government will be handed over on May 28.
“The inauguration on the 29th, as you know, the committees have concluded their arrangements. Invitations have been sent out to all the presidents of African countries including presidents and prime ministers of the G8, including multilateral heads like the United Nations, Commonwealth, ECOWAS, African Union. We expect a beautiful ceremony on the 29th.
“We also reiterated that there will be no African time. This idea of inviting people and the invitee arrives before the inviter is not good for us. And therefore, we must set examples for people to follow as leaders and those of us who will organise this event we must stick to the details of the timing of the activities”.
Aliyu also said former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon also moved “A thank you and gratitude motion”, reiterating all the beautiful things that have happened in the council and thanking President Jonathan and all the members for their contributions in the development and unity of Nigeria.
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