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Transition: Buhari allows Tinubu to win 2023 election, Garba says
Nigeria’s presidency, on Wednesday, said a ‘perfect’ arrangement had been put in place to ensure a seamless handover ceremony for the incoming Bola Tinubu’s administration, assuring that the embarrassing moments that allegedly trailed the Goodluck Jonathan government on the day he exited office would not happen.
Speaking on the state-run Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Shehu Garba, said Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima, had 60 per cent of the total invited guests.
Specifically recalling the alleged embarrassment at the airport in 2015, when then outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan, was reportedly disallowed from taking the presidential wing while exiting to Bayelsa, Garba also noted that whereas he got handwritten notes from his predecessor, it would not be the case this time as Buhari had signed an executive order which would expressly ensure a smooth transition.
“When former President Jonathan handed over to President Buhari at the Eagle Square on May 29, 2015, there were very embarrassing moments that followed reportedly. In fact, the former president trended at some point because the story was told that by the time he got to the airport, security operatives will not allow him the use of the presidential wing of the airport, and all of that.
“So, all of these things have been foreseen. So, you would expect a perfect process of exit and incoming processes involving the two leaders, that is the outgoing president and the incumbent president,” he stated.
Garba also stated that the State House has now been emptied for the incoming president to bring in his own employees, especially political appointees.
On why Tinubu and Shettima were getting their national honours on Thursday, days before the inauguration, against the tradition of giving them out on the day of inauguration, Shehu stated that the committee set up by the president had visited Kenya and the United States to learn how the handover could be better done.
According to him, just 40 per cent of expected guests were invited by the federal government, including foreign missions, explaining that there was ‘massive interest’ by people who wanted to be present.
He noted that people who thought they played one part or another in the process leading to the handover would also want to be there, disclosing that the presidency was expecting ‘a huge crowd full of enthusiastic and very keen people.’
Asked to elaborate on what he meant by the State House being ‘emptied’, the president’s aide noted that Buhari has since quit the main building at the state House for the smaller ‘glass house’ in preparation for May 29.
According to him, the incoming president will make the choice who to go into the State House with him, including his personal staff, but recalled that aside from himself, Femi Adesina and a protocol member of staff, Buhari did not make any major appointments until the third day.
On whether any staff of the Buhari administration had already started switching allegiance to the incoming president, Shehu argued that it was the nature of humans to do so, but noted that Jonathan’s case was more pronounced because many of his aides were angry with him for deciding to handover power peacefully when he lost the 2015 presidential poll.
“You can’t change human beings. So, the man of the moment obviously is the incoming president. So, you will expect people, who will come around him, but I think the case of Jonathan was different, because I think again, there was desertion by a number of people around him who felt disappointed that he chose to be patriotic, nationalistic and accepted defeat.
“And quite a number of people, who were within his camp were not happy with that. So, yes, there was a desertion, but I think in the case of President Muhammadu by a number of people around him who felt disappointed that he chose to be patriotic, nationalistic and accepted defeat.
“And quite a number of people, who were within his camp were not happy with that. So, yes, there was a desertion, but I think in the case of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Villa had never been like the party headquarters for him in the last eight years
“Visitors come, but there has been some decency in all of these things. And I don’t think that we’re witnessing any spectacular desertion of the place,” he added.
He stressed that the relationship between Tinubu and Buhari remained cordial, noting that the president-elect had once thanked Buhari for being neutral and allowing him win the poll.
“It’s going to be a perfect relationship, because it is going to be the same government although different administrations. He’s APC. When he (Tinubu) took his certificate from INEC, the first thing he did was that he flew to Daura and showed it to the president.
“The incoming president never gets tired of saying that the president allowed him to win. It is very significant. He allowed him to win in a free and fair process,” he stressed.
Kogi State Police Command has called for cancellation of rally organized by the Constituents of the Central Senatorial District to host Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement sent to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, said it became operative for the scheduled to be put off, citing security threats.
The statement said: “Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of Rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command has called on the organisers of planned rally at Okene to cancel such event in the interest of the peace in Kogi State.
“The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the State. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the State is currently enjoying.
“In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the Kogi State Police Command is therefore advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the State. As the Command will not hesitate to apply the full wrath of law on any one who causes disturbance of peace and order in the State.”
Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Isah Jibrin (Echocho), has condoled families who lost their loved ones in the windstorm that rocked Itobe and other communities in Ofu Local Government Council.
Saddened by the devastation of the rainstorm that led to death of two persons and destruction of properties worth millions of naira, the lawmaker said, the victims wouldn’t be left alone at this trying period, stating that everything possible would be done to mitigate their pains.
In a statement issued by the Media and Communications office of the lawmaker on Monday said, his attention has been drawn to the incident even as he is out of the country, but will offer his personal contributions in cash and in kind towards alleviating the suffering of the victims during his visit to the affected communities upon his arrival.
He stated that attention of relevant government agencies will be drawn through a motion which he will sponsor when the Senate reconvenes from Sallah and Easter break to the natural disaster with a view to quickly provide succour for the victims and resettlement of displaced households.
The lawmaker said, he was aware that over 500 residents in communities of Itobe, Adumu, Itagidi, Oladebu, Ajegwu, Ofoke and others in Ofu Local Government Council were left homeless in the first rain disaster, adding that the disaster wasn’t their making.
“I shall offer my personal palliative for immediate succour to the victims as soon as I am back in the country.
“Also, I assure the victims that I will sponsor a motion that will draw attention of relevant government agencies to mobilise materials and resources to mitigate their pains, especially those rendered homeless as a result of the disaster.
Senator Isah Jibrin, further called on the National Metereological Agency to do a wider publicity on the signals and looming dangers of windstorm for citizens to be properly informed and to take caution.
Kogi State government has banned rallies and crowd related reception in the State, citing security challenges.
This was even as the suspended female Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was billed for homecoming on Tuesday 1st April, 2025 which a grand reception was reportedly planned by her constituents.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Commisioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo and obtained by CAPITAL POST on Monday in Lokoja, it cited security concerns and stressed that the State Government was committed to safety of lives and properties.
The statement said, the ban on convoys entering the State and any form of public gatherings was a proactive step to nip in the bud, breach of security as intelligence reports available to the State Government was indicative of looming crisis.
It said, the State government has just quelled crisis in parts of Kogi Local Government Council in the Western Senatorial, saying that government was committed to ensuring peace across the entire State.
Part of the statement said: “In light of credible intelligence reports, the government has deemed it necessary to take proactive measures to prevent any form of security breach that could destabilize the state.
“It is heartwarming to note that the State witnessed a peaceful Sallah, however some security threats are threatening the peace of the State. In Kasemiya, Katubo and Umozu Ette all in Kogi Local Government Area in Kogi West, fishing activities have resulted in serious crisis, leading to the loss of two lives.
“All fishing activities in Kogi Local Government Area is hereby suspended until peace is completely restored. Security operatives have been deployed to the affected areas to restore peace and implement our directive.
“Also, in Ankpa Local Government Area, specifically in Enjema District, a communal clash between Ika-Odele and Ika Ochala is threatening the peace of Kogi East.
“The State Government has deployed security to also calm the situation to avert further loss of lives and property.
“The ongoing peace meeting between the two communities as facilitated by the State Government must be sustained.
“In Kogi Central, intelligence at our disposal point to the fact that some elements are planning to stage some violent rallies in the guise of political and religious agitations. This is to create a platform for wanton destruction and breakdown of law and order.”
Meanwhile, Natasha’s homecoming invitation which has already gone wide showed that the reception was to be held in her honour on Tuesday.
CAPITAL POST recalled that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months by the 10th Senate for allegedly breaching Senat3mStandinb Rules.
She also accused the Senate President,Godswill Obot Akpabio of sexual harassment and while she had attended the Interparliamentary Union, IPU in Geneva to speak on her harrowing experiences in the Senate.
At the time of filing this report, no statement has emanated Natasha’s media minders in response to the ban issued by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo government.
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