My fellow Nigerian brothers, sisters and friends of Nigeria.

1. I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a modest sense of fulfilment.

2. Today we mark and celebrate another peaceful transition of power from one elected government to another in our steady march to improve and sustain Nigeria’s democracy.

3. This year we witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential Elections since the first Republic and this demonstrates that our democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election.

4. We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among Nations.

5. Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that did not agree with the results to go to court.

6. Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria.

7. I salute the doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential Candidates and their political parties for believing in our judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to court.

8. In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better.

9. As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of our individualism, the power of our unity, the convictions of our beliefs to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose.

10. To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.

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11. You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence, fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you, under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher that I am leaving.

12. You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have chosen well.

13. The last eight years have been an exciting experience in my desire and commitment to see a Nigeria in which public goods and services are available, and accessible within a united, peaceful and secure nation.

14. Fellow Nigerians, on the strength of your overwhelming support for me and my political party, I started this journey with a great deal of promise and expectation from you. I never intended to be just politically correct but to do the correct things that will make meaningful impact on the lives of the common Nigerian.

15. This high expectation was not misplaced because, like the ordinary Nigerian, I had grown tired of watching the country progressively moving away from the path of correctness.

16. To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.

17. We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an even playing field where persons without any political God-Father or access to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.

18. The Nigerian economy has become more resilient due to the various strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remained afloat during cases of global economic downturns.

19. You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice.

20. Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.

21. Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their return on investments is guaranteed.

22. The private sector proved a strong partner in our drive to build a resilient and sustainable economy as evidenced by the growing number of turn-key projects in various sectors of the economy.

23. In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the country.

24. Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes notably amongst which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.

25. Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.

26. To sustain the gains made so far, I call on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that our values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions.

27. Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage. For all those under unlawful captivity our Security Agencies are working round the clock to secure their release unharmed.

28. Fellow Nigerians, you know how dear the desire in my heart is, to rid the country of corrupt practices that had consistently diminished our efforts to be a great country.

29. I did pursue this commitment relentlessly, in spite of the expected push back. I am happy that considerable progress had been made in repatriating huge sums of money back to the country and also taken over properties illegally acquired from our common wealth.

30. To improve service delivery, we began the implementation of a number of reforms aimed at producing an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-oriented (EPIC) Federal Civil Service and the results are beginning to show.

31. On the international scene, Nigeria’s influence continues to grow as exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership positions in renowned global bodies.

32. Our democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of separation of powers. The leadership and members of the National Assembly deserve my appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract from their roles as a check to the executive arm.

33. I also want to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to a good number of Nigerians who provided their support and encouragement to help me navigate the exciting journey in moving Nigeria forward.

34. I cannot and will not forget the millions who prayed for me during my illness in my first term of office. I am constantly praying for you and for Nigeria to thrive in peace.

35. As I retire home to Daura, Katsina State, I feel fulfilled that we have started the Nigeria Re-Birth by taking the initial critical steps and I am convinced the in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk to see a Nigeria that fulfils its destiny to be a great nation.

36. I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023 than in 2015.

37.I thank you all. And may God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

1. Double nomination falls under Non- qualification of a candidate under section 134 (a) of Electoral Act, 2022 and, is also one of the grounds you can challenge an election through Election Petition.

2. Non qualification or double nomination of a candidate can be challenged by a person within the Party that nominated the candidate and also a person who is from another political party or another political party itself.

3. Double nomination can be challenged before or after Election ( if it is before Election, we call it “pre Election matter” and if it after the Election we call it “post Election matter”).

4. If you are challenging double nomination or non-qualification of a candidate before the election (Pre Election matter) then, you have to be a member of the political party that nominated the candidate you are challenging. An external person cannot challenge it before the election because it is at that time an internal affair of the party that nominated him.

5. But if it is after Election, any other candidate from another political party or another political party itself can now challenge it through Election Petition under non- qualification. At this time, it is called non- qualification of such candidate. You incorporate it in your Election Petition. That is what LP did.

Shettima’s non- qualification will still be raised again in the Supreme Court by Peter Obi and Supreme will still have to determine it again in Peter Obi’s Petition. Shettima has not gone scot free. The double nomination will still rear its ugly head again.

But PDP did not wait for the election to come before they challenged the double nomination, that is why Supreme Court threw their case out because at that time, it was an internal affairs of APC; it did not concern PDP or any other party at that time. It is after the election that other candidates or other political parties can competently challenge it which is what Labour Party did. Peter Obi and his team are Election Petition gurus!

~ J. A. Ekwe & Co.
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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has again asked Nigerians to take back their country ahead of the inauguration of Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Tinubu, the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari conferred National Honour of Grand Commander of Order of Federal Republic (GCFR) on Tinubu amidst cheers from his team of supporters.

In his tweet, Peter Obi said; “I have consistently called on Nigerians to take back their country because only Nigerians can save Nigeria.

“This is the only nation that we have, and it is ours to build and develop.

“When I rejected the dual citizenship of other countries years back, I was conscious that Nigeria as the only country that I have will need my full attention and commitment in the years to come”.

In another news, a federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to stop the swearing-in of Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as Nigeria’s president.

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said that the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the case of the PDP against Kahsim Shettima, is not a setback to his quest for justice.

Atiku who made this comment on Friday via his official Twitter page, said the party’s legal team are “primed to robustly prove that the election of February 25 was fraudulent, did not comply with the constitutional requirements and the electoral guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP flagbearer added that the announced winner was not even qualified to contest the poll.

The battle for democracy and the enthronement of a new order to spur growth and development in Nigeria is one to which I have committed my all and for which I am not ready to walk away at this point when our nation is at crossroads.

Supreme court Today dismissed the suit seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 Presidential election.

A five-member panel of the supreme court held on Friday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked the locus standi to institute the suit.

Details later…

The President-elect, Bola Tinubu on Thursday pledged to address the security and power crises, among other challenges confronting the country.

Tinubu who was handed the transition report by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), promised not to disappoint Nigerians.

He said this shortly after his investiture with the country’s highest national honour of Grand Commander of Federal Republic alongside the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima who was honoured with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger by the President.

The investiture ceremony took place at the State House Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of the lineup of events for the 2023 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony slated for Monday.

The ex-Lagos State governor said he understood the honour conferred upon him and his VP-elect and the magnitude of the task ahead.

 He appealed to Buhari to entertain “knocks” on his doors whether he retires to Daura or the Niger Republic.

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.’’

After performing the handover of transition documents and transferring the baton of service to Tinubu, the President said he was confident to leave Nigeria in “capable hands.”

He said the conferment of the national honours was in accordance with the Honours Award Act, 1963, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004 which mandates that Presidents/Heads of State receive the Honour of GCFR while the Vice Presidents are awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.

“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 Tinubu and that of the GCON on His Excellency Kashim Shettima respectively,” he said.

Buhari said he had run a good race and finished his course as Nigeria’s leader for the past eight years.

“I am confident that Nigeria is in capable hands as we embark on this new chapter. I have run a good race. I have finished my course. It is now time for another to take up the baton. Once again, I congratulate President-elect, Bola Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima on their well-deserved investiture,’’ he said.

Buhari lauds regime

The outgoing President left a note of advice for the incoming administration saying, “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 the President and Vice President have to address them with courage, wisdom, and compassion.’’

He also noted that the transfer of transition documents aligns with Executive Order No. 14 (2023) which he signed to avoid a repeat of the transition hitches his regime suffered when he came on board in 2015.

“To avoid a repeat of our 2015 experience, I signed Executive Order No. 14 of 2023, which establishes the legal framework for conducting presidential transitions at the federal level.

“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.

“The primary responsibility of these two ad-hoc bodies is to ensure that every piece of information that will help a new administration get off to a speedy start is made available in a usable format and promptly,” he explained.

Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council, said the work done by the Buhari regime would give the Tinubu administration a “strong foundation” to perform its mandate.

At the event was the First Lady Aisha Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Ministers, the spouses and children of the President-elect and Vice President-elect, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, several state governors, traditional rulers, amongst others.

Meanwhile, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Thursday, recorded heavy passengers as dignitaries and guests began arriving for the Monday inauguration of Tinubu as the President.

Top hotels in Abuja are also experiencing an influx of guests with many of them fully booked ahead of the ceremony.

Checks at the airport indicated that the terminals witnessed high air passenger traffic as many moved to beat airline delays and other issues.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria confirmed the high influx of passengers into the NAIA and attributed it to the forthcoming inauguration of the president-elect.

FAAN’s Head of Corporate Affairs, NAIA, Oluwakayode Adeyeoluwa, told The PUNCH that the agency was prepared to receive those coming for the inauguration but pleaded with passengers to cooperate with the authority.

Asked if the recent increase in passenger traffic into the Abuja airport could be attributed to the forthcoming inauguration of the President-elect, he replied, “Of course, people are coming in and going out, but the inauguration is a good reason to suspect that the high influx, for now, is due to what is forthcoming. So you are not far from the truth, for I don’t think there is any other thing happening in Abuja.

However, at the same time, when the weekend approaches, people travel more. But I must note that coincidentally the inauguration is coming just after the weekend.”

Adeyeoluwa said the airport authority was well prepared to manage the situation and urged air travellers to be law-abiding when using the NAIA, stressing that the facility would see a lot of activities in the coming days.

“We appreciate them using the airport and we appreciate their understanding. We want to say that as they can see, things are improving by the day at the Abuja airport, as facilities are being upgraded to accommodate the increasing need for it.

“However, at the same time, we want to solicit the cooperation of passengers, new car parks have been created, and the toilet facilities at the departure terminals have been increased. So the management is doing all that we can to see that passengers get the optimum seamless service that we can give to them.

“So the passengers should please understand and cooperate with us in terms of abiding with the rules at the airport, especially the traffic rules. Some people will come to the airport and park where they are not supposed to park. You don’t park (your car) in front of the terminal. You can drop off a passenger but not park there and wait,” Adeyeoluwa stated.

The spokesperson for Dana Air, Kinsley Ezenwa, disclosed that the airline has been recording increased passenger traffic.

Ezenwa noted that the inauguration ceremony may have contributed to the volume, noting that the rise in air passengers had been on a steady increase before the inauguration ceremony.

Yes, we have been getting it for the past month and it’s been very good. Inauguration might have added to the percentage though but it’s been on a steady rise long before the inauguration,’’ he added.

In preparation for the visiting dignitaries who included heads of government and diplomats, this newspaper gathered that the Federal Government had booked all the top hotels in Abuja for the accommodation of guests.

It was learnt that some of the luxury hotels had been booked since March.

Security sources confirmed that police counter-terrorism units and undercover operatives would be stationed at the hotels where the visiting dignitaries would be accommodated.

As part of the preparation for the inauguration, the Federal Secretariat and some other public buildings in the FCT are wearing a new look.

One of our correspondents who visited the Federal Secretariat on Thursday observed that ministries, departments and agencies were being painted.

Federal secretariat

For instance, the building hosting the Ministry of Health and Education has been repainted with new boards mounted on the building.

Refurbishment of the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Ministries of Youths and Sports Development, Science and Technology among others, were also ongoing on Thursday.

Also, several missing manholes were being replaced in the city centre.

As part of the security measures, police and Nigeria Air Force helicopters were seen hovering above the Federal Capital Territory on surveillance.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, confirmed that security had been beefed up across the country in preparation for the Presidential inauguration ceremony slated for May 29 at Eagle Square, Abuja.

 He added that the police had been working hand-in-hand in collaboration with all levels of government, the private sector, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and other security agencies to ensure the safety and security of all citizens; and have a laudable and seamless inauguration ceremony on May 29, 2023.

Baba made the revelations on Thursday during a press briefing at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.

He said adequate personnel had been detailed to protect the Presidential Villa, provide security at and around Eagle Square and man the borders, seaports, and airports, while others will equally be deployed to man the entry and exit points of the FCT and other critical government installations.

According to him, since the announcement of Bola Tinubu as president-elect, specific plans had been formed for the inauguration ceremony, as contained in the operation order, which will provide enhanced protection while allowing guests, well-meaning Nigerians, and the international community to witness the event.

Baba stated, “Since the conclusion of the 2023 general elections and the announcement of the President-elect, security has been beefed up throughout the country. We have formed specific plans for the inauguration ceremony as contained in the operation order, which will provide enhanced protection while allowing guests, well-meaning Nigerians, and the international community to witness the event.

“We work hand-in-hand and collaborate with all levels of government, private sectors, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and other security agencies to ensure the safety and security of all citizens; and have a laudable and seamless inauguration ceremony on May 29, 2023.

Police warn

“The Nigeria Police Force is mobilising its operatives to provide a comprehensive security arrangement. Adequate personnel have been detailed to protect the Presidential Villa, provide security at and around Eagle Square, to man all the Nigerian borders, seaports, and airports, while others will equally be deployed to man the entry and exit points of the capital city, Abuja, and other critical government installations.

“Amongst these operatives are men drawn from the NPF Special Forces, Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Protection Unit, Anti-Bomb Squad, FIB-Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, NPF Medical, NPF Mounted Troops, and K9, among others.

The NPF has also deployed all its serviceable helicopters and highly efficient drones for aerial surveillance in Abuja and its environs. All NPF serviceable water cannons and Armoured Personnel Carriers will as well be deployed in strategic places around the capital city.”

Baba noted that police officers and other security operatives will be located along routes to and from the inauguration grounds.

The police will also be taking rigorous safety measurements around the persons entering the venue, which include screenings and searches.

The personnel will also take charge of traffic control in collaboration with the protocol subcommittee of the transition committee to have a seamless traffic flow.

The police will also be taking rigorous safety measurements around the persons entering the venue, including carrying out screenings and searches.

In line with the outlined activities to commemorate the inauguration

the ceremony, there will be Juma’at prayers on Friday (today) at the Central

Mosque, Abuja, Church Service on Sunday at the Ecumenical Centre and fireworks show at 12:01 am on Monday at the City Gate, Abuja.

The force further advised Nigerians not to panic due to the fireworks show.

It warned individuals who do not have any business around the vicinity during the ceremony to steer clear of the venue.

The IG noted, “The police wish to equally inform the general public that there will be diversions in the following areas – Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/Total Filling Station, POWA/FCDA Junction, Finance Junction by ECOWAS/Women Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eagle Square ( Phase 1 & Phase 11), Kur Muhammad Way/National Mosque, Abia House, NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo, Gana Junction/Transcorp, Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, Ceddi Plaza, NNPC Twin Tower, and NNPC/NBS.’’

In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed that the inauguration ceremonies at the state level had been catered for, adding that the IG has directed Command Commissioners of Police and other security agencies to carry out heavy deployments to fortify venues of the inauguration ceremonies in their various states.

 In preparation for their new roles, the Nigeria Police Force has conducted a three-day induction course for officers appointed as chief security officers, Aides-de-Camp, and orderlies to newly-elected state governors and other Very Important Persons.

The 71 participants were trained on their duties and responsibilities in carrying out protective services in their different postings.

Adéjobí said, “The induction course catered to 53 CSOs and ADCs, as well as 18 Orderlies. The training similarly covered the Rules of Engagement and Standard Operational Procedures to apply in various simulated situations as well as specific policies and etiquettes for strict adherence.

He said, “Seasoned officers with a wealth of experiential knowledge, led by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, were on the ground to coordinate the course.

 “The IG emphasized the role of professionalism and commitment in effectively carrying out these specialized policing services and charged the officers and men to continuously develop themselves for efficiency.”

 In a fresh alarm, the Department of State Services has disclosed that some elements were planning to disrupt the handover ceremonies in some parts of the country.

 According to the service, the plotters intended to undermine the efforts of the security agencies as well as cause panic among the citizens.

 In a statement on Thursday by the spokesperson for the service, Peter Afunanya urged citizens to adhere to the laid down protocols for the events across the country.

 It partly read, “The Service is, however, aware of plans by subversive elements to disrupt the programmes in parts of the country. The aim is to undermine security agencies’ efforts at ensuring peaceful ceremonies as well as creating panic and fear among members of the public.’’

Based on these, citizens, the media, and civil society organisations are advised to adhere strictly to security and civil protocols during the events.”

(Punch)