In a true show of support for Africa’s democracy, Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside other world leaders, on Saturday, joined thousands of Gabonese citizens as Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema was inaugurated as the new elected Gabonese President.
This followed his election victory on April 12, 2025, when he emerged victorious after beating seven others to win the presidential election.
Nguema had been the interim President for 20 months following a change in government and ouster of former President Ali Bongo.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the Nigeria’s vice president, Stanley Nkwocha, the inauguration ceremony, which held at the Stade de l’Amitié sino-gabonaise in Libreville, Gabon, saw military parades, marchpast and display of Gabon’s rich cultural heritage.
In his inauguration speech, the President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, thanked citizens of the country for their overwhelming support for him, leading to his emergence as a democratically elected President.
He pledged to work hard for the development of Gabon as well as empower the youth in order to secure the future of the nation.
President Nguema further promised to address the challenges of insecurity and criminality that were troubling the country, adding that the lack of adequate water supply will also be tackled.
He recognised the role of the United Nations (UN) as he pledged to work with them, just as he called for peaceful coexistence amongst African nations.
Aside Vice President Kashim Shettima who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, other heads of state present included President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, Faustin-Archange Touadéra of Central African Republic, Adama Barrow of The Gambia, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Félix Tshisekedi of Democratic Republic of Congo, Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, and Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno of Chad.
Others were Denis Sassou Nguesso of Republic of Congo, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau and Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, among many others.
Vice President Shettima, who was joined on the short trip by chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo and the Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, has since returned to Abuja.
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