Victor EzejaNigerian Government has declared Monday 29th May, 2023, as work free day for all workers in the country, to commemorate the inauguration of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the 16th democratically elected President.
The declaration was made by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday in Abuja.
READ ALSO: Tinubu To Buhari – Expect Knocks On Your Door In Daura or Niger; I won’t Disappoint You
A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior Dr Shuaib Belgore, said the Minister felicitates with all Nigerians on the momentous occasion, commending them for their faith in democracy as expressed in the nationwide election that produced the President and his Deputy being inaugurated and indeed in all elections across the nation.
Belgore said the minister urged the people to continue to support and promote democracy through adherence to the rule of law and uphold all democratic institutions.
He quoted the minister as saying, “Democracy anywhere is an unfinished business and the only way it can keep developing and serve its end of being the vehicle to good governance and the welfare of all the people is by adhering to its tenets of rule of law, support for democratic institutions, promotion of free and responsible press and advancement of the frontiers of freedom for all the people.”
Ogbeni Aregbesola urged Nigerian also to continue to promote ideals of peaceful coexistence and love for their neighbours, noting that we can only practice democracy and enjoy its dividends in a peaceful environment.
The Minister commended all Nigerians for their strident efforts at achieving an unbroken civilian rule and successful change of governments since 1999.
He urged them to support and cooperate with the coming administration, stating that the unbounded energy of the people is the nation’s greatest strength and will take the nation to its greatest height when it is positively deployed in its service.
READ ALSO: President Buhari Honours Tinubu As Nigeria’s President-Elect
The Minister charged Nigerians to shun any form of violence and other untoward acts, assuring them that with all hands on deck, the future is very bright when the nation will attain greatness in all facets of human development.
Preparations for swearing in of the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is on top gear.
Tinubu was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 25 February presidential election.
He was on March 1, 2023, declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. According to the results announced by Yakubu, Tinubu scored a total of 8,794,726 votes, the highest of all the candidates.
However, the outcome of the election is currently being challenged by three opposition political parties and their candidates at the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of Labour Party and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) are seeking a ruling of the court to invalidate the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the polls and president-elect.
The outgoing president, Muhammadu Buhari, has promised that Tinubu would get a seemless handover.
Buhari on Thursday at the presidential Vila, conferred on Tinubu with Nigeria’s highest honour – the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR).
The President also honoured Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
According to the schedule of activities marking the 2023 presidential inauguration, there will inauguration lecture on Saturday, 27 May, at 10 am on the topic: “Deepening democracy for integration and development,” to be delivererd by his excellency, Uhuru Kenyatta, former president of Kenya.
One Sunday, 28th May 2023 there will be Inter-denominational church service at the National christian centre, Abuja, and Inauguration Dinner/Gala night at 10 am.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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