The federal government declared on Thursday that the inauguration of the incoming Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government will hold as scheduled, saying not even any of the ongoing litigation can stop the transition process.
Stating that this was not the first time Nigeria is having disputed elections and the past disputes did not stop inaugurations, Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said the federal government’s position was in reaction to moves by certain groups to use legal proceedings to stop the inauguration, including relying on the pending petitions at the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal challenging the electoral victory of Tinubu.
Allaying fears about plot to scuttle the inauguration billed to hold on May 29, the SGF assured that most foreign countries, Heads of State, Presidents and other dignitaries invited for the inauguration of the President-elect, Tinubu, have indicated interests to attend the event.
The SGF spoke to journalists in Abuja while unveiling the programme of activities planned for the 2023 presidential inauguration.
When asked to name the foreign countries and leaders that would attend the event, the SGF noted that diplomatic privileges does not allow for the announcement of the invited foreign guests, even as he charged the media to get that information from the embassies and missions of various countries in Nigeria.
He noted that May 29, 2023 will mark the 7th consecutive democratic transition of power in Nigeria, adding that the day will usher in the 16th President of Nigeria.
He said, “The upcoming event is historically significant to this great nation and the international community, particularly Africa because of the democratic values and lessons in nationhood. For these reasons, we have chosen, ‘Nigeria: Better Together’ as the theme for the 2023 transition.”
Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Transition Council (PTC), said the council is charged with the responsibility of facilitating and managing the Presidential Transition.
He added that in the course of this process, the PTC established three main committees namely, Inauguration Committee under the chairmanship of the SGF; the Transition Documents Committee under the chairmanship of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation; and Security, Facilities and Intelligence Committee under the chairmanship of the National Security Adviser.
He stated: “In furtherance of the discharging of its function, the PTC also interfaced with leading democratic nations including the United States and the Republic of Kenya, as part of its learning efforts to pick up useful lessons in line with international best practices. It is important to also state that these countries have specific legislations on presidential transition, some of which date back to 1963.
“Let me once again assure Nigerians and indeed the global community of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the seamless transfer of power to President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.