The President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday took his
successor and President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on a familiarisation tour
of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari and Tinubu arrived at the Press Gallery at around
1:18pm shortly after observing Jummat at the Aso Villa Mosque.
“This is the gallery where you will be meeting members of
the press,” Buhari told Tinubu as both men emerged from the waiting room of the
Aso Chambers.
This came barely 24 hours after the President conferred upon
Tinubu the highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic
and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on Vice President-elect, Kashim
Shettima, at the State House Banquet Hall.
On Thursday, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo took Shettima on a
tour of the VP wing of the State House.
Both leaders exchanged documents ahead of the official
handover of power on Monday, May 29, 2023.
However, the President-elect prayed for good health to lead
the country.
“May God help me to carry the burden, to face the challenge,
and keep me in good health to fulfill the dream and aspiration of millions of
our people,” Tinubu said after observing the Friday Jumaat prayers at the
Presidential Villa mosque and touring the premises with the President, Major
General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
Tinubu said his goal was to, amongst other things, “kill
corruption”.
“That is a covenant that you have to really pursue. Other
than that, why are you in politics? My own is not identity politics. It’s not
hunger or poverty politics. I have followed a man who has integrity, character
and courage to say ‘Nigerians we need to change and change we have to. Change
our mindset, kill corruption in our society,” he added.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to support the All Progressives
Congress’s change agenda.
He also spoke on his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda to revamp the
economy, tackle security and poverty reduction, and what generally Nigerians
should expect of him.
Earlier, Buhari conducted the incoming President around his
office building and other affiliated offices including the Executive Council
Chamber, Tea Room and the State House Banquet Hall.
Buhari however said it was an honour and privilege to serve
the nation as he wished the incoming President success.
Tinubu had joined the President for Juma’at at the Mosque as
part of programmes to mark Monday’s inauguration.
According to a statement by Tinubu’s media officer,
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Buhari invited the President-elect to join him in his last
public prayer session at the State House Mosque.
Among those who observed the Juma’at with them were former
Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Chairman of the National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.); Senior Special Assistant to
the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Shehu Garba, and some other
presidential aides.
The statement added, “Muslim prayers and interdenominational
Christian service were scheduled for Friday and Sunday respectively. While the
two events were billed to hold at the National Mosque and the National
Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, similar prayer sessions were planned all over the
country.
“The events will climax on Monday, May 29 when the former
Lagos governor takes the oath of office as the 16th President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. At the well-attended prayer session at the National
Mosque, President-elect Tinubu was represented by vice-president-elect, Senator
Shettima.
“At both mosques,
Imams prayed for the success of the incoming administration and supplicated for
Allah’s guidance for Tinubu and his deputy to steer the ship of the country to
a greater destination. They also admonished Muslim faithful to constantly remember
their leaders and the country in prayers as enjoined by Islam.”
Keyamo hails
President
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment,
Festus Keyamo (SAN), has hailed the Buhari regime, saying it did its best for
workers between 2015 and 2023, even though some labour unions have accused the
regime of treating workers poorly.
Keyamo, who spoke in an interview with one of our
correspondents in Abuja, said, “President Buhari raised the minimum wage and
did not downsize the civil service despite two recessions and the Covid-19
pandemic. He also ensured that civil servants were not owed salaries.”
Last modified: May 27, 2023
