Rotimi Amaechi; Jonah Jang
Two days to the expiration of their
tenure, some governors have jetted out of the country, thereby refusing
to personally hand over power to their successors.
They include Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema.
Also, some governors, who did not travel out, have decided to shun the inauguration ceremonies of their successors.
Preparations for the inauguration of the
nation’s 4th Republic intensified on Wednesday with Nigeria and the
international community gearing up for the ceremony.
ADVERTISEMENT
The
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, is expected to be inaugurated as the
country’s Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
while governors are expected to be inaugurated in their respective
states.
Lamido left Nigeria last week after handing over to the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdu Babura.
The governor, whose tenure expires on May
29, had before departing Nigeria for Saudi Arabia told newsmen last
week Thursday that he was taking a well deserved rest.
At the conference, Lamido confirmed that he was leaving behind a debt of N2bn.
Putting the debt issue in perspective,
the governor explained that of the N14bn debt in the name of the state,
N12bn, which his administration used in the construction of the Dutse
International Airport, was owed by the Federal Government.
Like Lamido, the outgoing Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema, has jetted out of the country ahead of the inauguration.
The PUNCH gathered that Shema had last week Thursday left the state on an official trip to Abuja.
Further checks revealed that the governor
had after performing the official inauguration of the state’s housing
complex in Abuja, last weekend, left the shores of the country on
Saturday night.
It was learnt that the Secretary to the
State Government, Mukhtar Ibrahim, would represent Shema during the
handover ceremonies slated to be held at the new multi-million naira
Karkanda Stadium.
This is coming at a time when it is
becoming clearer that some Peoples Democratic Party governors, who lost
their states to the opposition All Progressives Congress, have concluded
plans to avoid being physically present when their successors take over
the reins of governance.
The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi, has said that he will not be present at the swearing-in of his
successor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
There had been speculations that Amaechi
may not be present at Wike’s inauguration as a result of the controversy
surrounding the presidential and governorship elections in the state.
But Amaechi, who spoke through his Chief
Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, explained that he would rather be at
the swearing-in of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, in
Abuja.
“Governor Amaechi at the inauguration
ceremony of Wike? He (Amaechi) plans to attend the swearing-in of the
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari,” a text message sent to our
correspondent by Iyofor read.
The Executive Assistant to the Plateau
State Governor, Mr. Clinton Garuba, confirmed to one of our
correspondents that his principal, Mr. Jonah Jang, is most likely not
going to attend the handover ceremony.
Garuba explained that Jang was likely to
heed the advice of his close aides to steer clear of the inauguration of
his successor, Mr. Simon Lalong, on Friday.
Garuba explained that since there was no
constitutional role assigned to the outgoing governor during such an
occasion, “it will be unwise for him to be there.”
He revealed that the outgoing governor
had already written a letter inviting Lalong to the Government House,
Jos, to collect the handover notes on Thursday.
Garuba said, “Since it is the Chief Judge
that swears in the governor, Jang has no role to play there. He is more
or less going there as a spectator. So, we have advised him not to go
but he has the discretion to heed to our advice or not.
“But he has written to the governor-elect
to come to the Government House on Thursday, where he will hand over
the notes to him officially.”
Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, who
has not indicated any interest in leaving the shores of the country
before Friday’s inauguration, said he would hand over the mantle of
leadership to the incoming administration on Thursday – a day to the
event – at the Makurdi Government House.
The governor, who spoke through his
Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Cletus Akwaya, said
that the state executive council took the decision after their last
meeting today (Wednesday).
Akwaya said his principal had prepared
the handover notes and was ready to hand over power to the incoming
Governor Samuel Ortom.
The special adviser explained that Suswam
had performed creditably well and deserved the commendation of the
people of the state.
He, however, did not say whether or not Suswam would be present during the inauguration.
One of our correspondents gathered that
civil servants in the state plan to boo Suswam should he attend the
inauguration slated to take place on May, 29 at the IBB Square, Makurdi.
It was learnt that most civil servants in the state are unhappy with Suswam’s performance which they described as abysmal.
His administration is owing salary and pension arrears for four and six months respectively.
His Niger State counterpart, Babangida
Aliyu, said that he had no plans to leave the state before the handover
date. Aliyu said he had concluded plans to hand over to Sani Bello – the
winner of the just concluded governorship election in the state.
The governor, who spoke through his Chief
Press Secretary, Mr. Israel Ebije, told our correspondent that he had
not abandoned his duties as he was still holding council meetings a few
days to the handover date.
Ebije said, “He is even inaugurating
projects. He believes governance is all about service and not
subterfuge. He has no reason to shun a ceremony which symbolises
democratic transition of power.”
According to him, Aliyu has served meritoriously and he will leave office as a hero.
“You know he is not a coward and the
people of Niger are not blind to what he has done. For those who have
turned a blind eye to his achievements, we should be sympathetic to
their plight,” the aide said.
Buhari’s inauguration: Tight security in Abuja
Police and soldiers have beefed up security in Abuja ahead of Friday’s inauguration of Buhari as the president of the country.
Armed policemen and soldiers on Wednesday
started checking vehicles in areas such as the Airport Road, Apo
Roundabout, Asokoro and AYA.
At the Eagle Square, where the
inauguration of the President and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,
(SAN), will take place, soldiers, who would parade on Friday, were seen
practising.
There was heavy security at the square as people, including journalists, were not allowed in.
Also, as part of the preparations for the
presidential inauguration, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon
Arase, has ordered tight security at the Eagle Square.
He has also directed his personnel to
scale up security at major hotels where important dignitaries and
foreign guests would be lodged.
A statement by the Force Public Relations
Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, in Abuja, on Wednesday, said traffic on all
roads around the Eagle Square would be diverted.
The statement added that major places
within the Federal Capital Territory would be manned by security agents
“as well as the mounting of Tactical Operation Points on all the roads
leading into and out of FCT.”
The statement reads, “As part of
preparations for a hitch-free presidential inauguration, the
Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered the diversion of
traffic on all the roads around Eagle Square on Friday, May 29, 2015.”
Meanwhile, the various checkpoints
mounted by armed soldiers, however, have been causing gridlock,
especially in the evenings. The military checkpoints at Abuja City gate,
Kubwa-Zuba Expressway and around Julius Berger Roundabout, Wuse, are
sources of frustration to motorists.
Our correspondent observed that
preparations for the inauguration are gathering momentum as a detachment
of policemen, soldiers and naval officers daily rehearse for the
ceremonial parade that will usher the nation into a new government.
Miniature flags that were mounted on
street lights in different areas of the FCT had changed the face of the
city, giving it a festive outlook.
The Bayelsa State Government will host
President Goodluck Jonathan to a grand welcome reception on Friday and
Saturday, investigation has revealed.
President Jonathan, who is handing over
the reins of power to the incoming government of Buhari, lost his
re-election bid in the March 28 presidential election.
Addressing journalists at a press
conference on Wednesday evening at the Banquet Hall of the Government
House, Yenagoa, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr.
Osueme Kikile, described Jonathan as a worthy son.
He described the outgoing President as a hero worthy of celebration by all.
Kikile said, “The fact that President
Goodluck Jonathan (our hero) is returning home in good stead after
administering the country for close to six years is worthy of
celebration.
“The programme of his reception will
begin on Friday 29. Jonathan will be received at the Government House
helipad by Governor Seriake Dickson and other dignitaries.
“Thereafter, Jonathan will proceed to
Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre for a grand reception. From Gabriel Okara
Cultural Centre, Jonathan will proceed to his country home, Otuoke,
where he will be hosted by his kinsmen.
“In the evening of Friday, he will be hosted at the Government Banquet Hall.”
The commissioner said that on Saturday,
May 30, Jonathan would be the guest at an interdenominational service
scheduled for St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Yenagoa.
He said in the course of the programme, there would be a slight restriction of movement.
Kikile, who said the restriction was for
security reasons, urged the people of Bayelsa to bear the inconveniences
the restriction might cause them.
He stated that the restriction would be
along the road leading to the Banquet Hall of the Gabriel Okara Cultural
Centre and St. Peter’s Anglican Church.
The commissioner, who said the President
would arrive the state by 3pm on Friday, said the restrictions would
begin an hour before his arrival.
He dismissed insinuations that Jonathan might not come with his wife, Patience, saying there were no indications to that effect.
“There is no indication that the
President is not coming with the First Lady. There is also no indication
of any rift between Jonathan and his wife,” he said.
