With just six days to the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria, veteran State House journalists yesterday recouned moments and happenings worth remembering throughout their coverage of the transition process from the build up of activities to the inauguration ceremony.
From the activities around the inauguration venue, including the mood, to the dignitaries that grace the occasion, as well as memorable remarks made by the newly inaugurated president, the reporters, popularly known as State House correspondents, spoke with LEADERSHIP about the relishing moments, including the highs and lows.
A senior journalist, Chesa Chesa, who has been covering the State House since 2008, said the mood around the transition period is usually expectant.
According to him, much attention is paid to the next president’s speech, with many waiting to hear landmark pronouncements or decisions that would signpost the direction of the new administration.
He said, “Crowds, both invited and uninvited, throng the Eagle Square, which is heavily policed. The atmosphere is usually party-like. It is even more so outside the Eagle Square where chants and songs in the name of the new president and his party rent the air. The party taking power takes the show.
“The security cordon around the Three Arms Zone shuts down the area for the entire day, while brisk business by sundry merchants is carried out at the fringes of the cordon. These merchants hawk food, drinks, as well as memorabilia and mementoes of the incoming or ruling party and the next or returning president.
“A lot of attention is focused on the president, and not much on the vice president. There are always visiting presidents, mainly African leaders. It is one of those occasions that the military and paramilitary showcase their finest drills, parades and marches.
“There are usually colorful dances and performances from the national troupe, depicting the major tribes in the country. Of course, the guests, particularly the dignitaries appear in their best and colourful attires.
“Interestingly, the outgoing president is less seen after his arrival for the occasion, accompanied by his wife. After the formal oath taken by the new president and vice president, the outgone president and vice president quietly leave the VIP section of the venue through the rear entrance before the ceremony ends, hardly noticed by the audience. The whole ceremony takes about three hours or more, depending on whether it is for a returning president or a new one,” Chesa recalled.
Another senior journalists, Sunday Ode, who has spent not less than 13 years as State House correspondent covering the presidential billa, recalled outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari’s landmark speech in which he said he belonged to everybody and nobody in particular.
Ode who covered former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second inauguration, and the inaugurations of the Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari, said, “Like politicians, it’s usually one of the events journalists look forward to with high expectations in terms of scope of coverage and the promises to be made by every new head of state.
“Don’t forget that Yar’Adua shocked the world when he declared that the election that produced him fell short of expectations. And don’t forget Buhari’s “I belong to everybody, I belong to nobody” slogan.
“The military and paramilitary parades are usually the spectacle in all the inauguration events for either those on ground at the Eagle Square or those watching from afar”.
Ode further stated that the biggest moment of every inauguration, especially the one ushering in a new government, is that moment when the outgoing president steps down for the new helmsman to take over as the C-in-C, as was the case with Buhari and Jonathan who were from rival political parties.
Tinubu’s Inauguration Will Be Remarkable – Agbakoba
Meanwhile, foremost human rights activist and legal luminary, Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), yesterday said the uncertainty surrounding the inauguration of president-elect, Bola Tinubu, makes the event memorable.
Agbakoba, a key leader in the country’s pro-democratic movement, stressed that pending petitions cannot stop the inauguration and transition process, adding that he cannot recall any other time such petitions were filed to stop an inauguration.
He said, “The most important issue, as I see it, is the worry as to whether there will be an inauguration. I think that is the most pressing issue which will make the inauguration more remarkable than others.
“For me personally, from the point of view of law, this inauguration cannot be restrained on account of what has occurred, that a petition is in court and therefore we have to wait.
“What is remarkable about it for me here is the brouhaha about whether it will take place or not. That is what is remarkable for me.
Inauguration Should Just Be Swearing-in Of Elected Officeholders – Sen Okurounmu
Also speaking, Senator Femi Okurounmu said inauguration is not supposed to be anything more than just the swearing in of elected office holders.
He however said the expectations from the incoming president are that he would solve the problems confronting Nigeria.
He said, “It is not only the problems Nigerians are craving to be solved, but some of the problems that he himself while he was a progressive under Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Abraham Adesanya has been craving for all those years before he went to APC. I hope that he would still remember those things and attend to them.
‘’The other thing expected of him is to revert to the 1953 constitution. That is one of the first priority. The constitution we are operating now is fraudulent, it is wasteful, it is expensive, it is autocratic, it is not democratic.
‘’If he reverts back to the 1953 constitution, with necessary amendments to the number of units, My feeling is that we should go back to the 12 States General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) created when he was the military head of State.”
On how realisable that could be, Okurounmu said, ‘’I say he should go back to it. If he is willing to go back to it, why is it not realisable? We operated 12 states under Gowon; we can go back to it. And we have operated the 1953 constitution- that is what we operated from 1960 to 1966 and it served us well.
Security Agencies Begin Serious Rehearsal At Eagle Square
Ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies have begun serious rehearsal at the Eagle Square, venue of the event.
LEADERSHIP investigations showed that men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), the Nigeria Police Force and other related security agencies have commenced immense rehearsals in preparation for May 29.
Our correspondents gathered that soldiers deployed for the colour parade have been rehearsing for over one week.
It was also learnt that this has been the pattern of preparations ahead of inauguration ceremonies in 2019.
Though the venue is flooded with soldiers, no route diversion has been made.
However, in a memo sighted by LEADERSHIP, the Presidential Transition Council has directed security agencies to cordon off all areas close to the Eagle Square from 2pm on Friday, May 26 to Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
Part of the memo signed by Dr. Ngozi Onwudiwe , the permanent secretary, Service Welfare Office for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation reads: “As you may be aware, the Presidential Transition Council (PTC) has unveiled the activities marking the 2023 presidential inauguration ceremony. The inauguration parade and swearing-in of the president-elect. Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is the climax of the programme will take place on Monday, 29th May, 2023 at the Eagle Square.
“In line with the security arrangements for the event. The Federal Secretariat complexes Phases l, Il, IIl and ministry of Foreign Affairs will be cordoned off by security operatives from 2.00pm on Friday, 26th May 2023 to Monday, 29th May 2023. Accordingly, officers and intending visitors to the affected areas will not be allowed access till Tuesday, 30th May, 2023, when work will resume in earnest.”
Meanwhile, the Military High Command, for the umpteenth time, has said there is no threat to the May 29 handover and warned mischief makers.
The director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, while briefing journalists in Abuja said, “Agitation will come, agitation will go. Like I told you there is a transition committee which has been put in place and the members of the transition committee which includes members of the armed Forces and other security agencies are working round the clock to make sure everything goes successful”.
Also, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has said the May 29 inauguration is sacrosanct.
The IGP also stated that the constitutional mandates of the Nigeria Police include the security of the processes leading to the inauguration of elected candidates at all levels and the guarantee for the successful conduct of the inauguration events.
To this end, he said, “We shall undertake this task optimally and manifestly. Anybody that stands in the way will be identified, promptly isolated, and brought to deserve justice in the overriding interest of our national security and stable political order.
“Consequently, citizens are encouraged to be mindful of the antics of political elements who may want to manipulate their political passion to advance parochial, undemocratic, and unconstitutional objectives.
“They should resist such, go about their lawful businesses and prepare to be part of the advancement of our democratic journey as patriotic citizens by freely participating in the inauguration ceremonies, assured that the Nigeria Police have acquired adequate assets to guarantee their protection.
“They are also encouraged to promptly report any attempts by the misguided political elements to infiltrate their ranks and engender political tension in the country for appropriate law enforcement response.
“The international community is, similarly, encouraged not to be swayed by the ill-informed actions of unpatriotic political actors who may be creating false red flags through social media. They are assured that our democracy remains firmly on course, the country’s security order remains stable, and the Presidential inauguration will hold as scheduled under a very peaceful atmosphere.”
