Who’s attending? List of activities: Here’s what to expect at swearing-in of Nigeria’s 16th president
Barely a week after U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced that the United States of America has imposed visa restrictions on some Nigerians who undermined the democratic process during the country’s 2023 general elections, U.S. President Joe Biden released a nine-man delegation that will be attending the swearing-in of Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023.
No fewer than 65 world leaders, including Heads of State, have been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of Nigeria’s 8th swearing-in ceremony of presidents since the country returned to democracy in 1999.
The nine-man delegates from the United States include Mr. David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja; the Honorable Sydney Kamlager-Dove, United States Representative (D) from California; the Honorable Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce; General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command; the Honorable Enoh T. Ebong, Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
In 2015, as hope for a new Nigeria was heightened following President Muhammadu Buhari’s win, some notable world leaders, like South African President Jacob Zuma, the Presidents of Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Zimbabwe, as well as a delegation from the United States led by Secretary of State John Kerry, attended the inauguration.
A timetable of activities for the swearing-in ceremony of Tinubu, Shettima
As one of the lined-up chains of activities ahead of the inauguration, the former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, is set to deliver a lecture titled “Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development” on May 27, 2023. However, many Nigerians are wondering if the presidential election held on February 23, 2023, which they believed was marred by widespread violence, result manipulation, and voter suppression, followed the democratic process. The election is currently being challenged in court by Presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. Nigeria, according to the Democracy Index 2023, was classified as a hybrid regime and ranked 106, with an Electoral Process score of 5 out of 10, below countries like Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, Gambia, and Kenya.
May 24, 2023: Valedictory meeting of the Federal Executive Council
President Muhammadu Buhari chaired what is expected to be his last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on May 24, 2023, at the State House in Abuja. While Buhari was expected to dissolve his cabinets today after the valedictory meeting, he directed his ministers to return to their offices and continue work until May 29.
May 25, 2023: National Honours for the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect
On Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the State House Conference Centre, President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to confer upon Tinubu the country’s highest national honor, the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), reserved only for presidents. Also, Vice President-elect Senator Kashim Shettima will be honored as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
May 26, 2023: Public lecture and Jumaat prayer
Between 10 am and 1 pm on Friday, May 26, 2023, lectures and prayers are expected to be held at the National Mosque in the Presidential Villa.
May 27, 2023: Inaugural Lecture
President-elect Bola Tinubu is expected to attend an inauguration lecture on the topic “Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development” by Uhuru M. Kenyatta, former president of Kenya, at the International Conference Center.
May 28, 2023: Gala Night
Bola Tinubu will receive dignitaries at the State House Conference Centre for the inauguration dinner/gala night.
May 29, 2023: Inauguration parade/swearing-in
At the Eagle Square on May 29, 2023, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima will be sworn in as Nigeria’s 16th President and Vice President. The Oath of Office will be administered by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Olukayode Ariwoola. As both Tinubu and his Vice are Muslims, they are expected to place both hands on a copy of the Quran while swearing to uphold the constitution of Nigeria.
