First Inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari

The inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as the 15th President of Nigeria, and 4th President in the fourth Nigerian Republic took place on Friday, 29 May 2015. It marked the beginning of the first term of Muhammadu Buhari as President following the 2015 general election.[1]

Inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari
Incoming and outgoing Nigerian Presidents
DateFriday, 29 May 2015 (2015-05-29)
LocationEagle Square
Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
ParticipantsMuhammadu Buhari
Yemi Osinbajo
24 HOSG

The Federal Government declared 29 May a public holiday.[2] More than fifty representatives from foreign governments were expected to attend the inauguration. The government intended to spend less than ₦2 billion (US$10 million) for the ceremony.[3]

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) seeking to restrain President Muhammadu Buhari from being sworn in for a second term on May 29, 2019.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Buhari winner of the February 23 presidential election with a total of 15,191,847 votes.

However, the HDP and its presidential candidate, Ambrose Oworu, filed a petition before the tribunal to nullify the election on the grounds of INEC's non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

While delivering judgement on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, the three-member panel of the tribunal ruled that the petitioners' application lacked merit and dismissed it. Pulse.ng

Background

Buhari won the presidential election by more than 2.5 million votes.[4]

On 17 May 2015, Buhari's campaign spokesperson said that following the inauguration, the President "would simply be addressed as Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." He would also not prefer to be addressed as "Mr., Alhaji or Mallam".[5] Buhari's official portrait was also unveiled on the same day.[6]

On 24 May 2015, the All Progressives Congress issued a statement saying that outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan was "handing over a nation in deep crisis" and that there was "no electricity, no fuel, workers are on strike, billions are owed to state and federal workers, $60 billion are owed in national debt and the economy is virtually grounded".[7]

On 26 May 2015, the National Union of Nigerian Students issued a statement saying that South African President Jacob Zuma was not welcome due to his "poor handling" of the recent xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in his country. It also stated that there is "no point felicitating with a people who clearly do not matter much to you" and his visit will only amount to pretence.[8]

On 27 May 2015, Premium Times reported that the ruling People's Democratic Party had deliberately received the bulk of the 5,000 invitation cards as there were plans to allegedly boo the outgoing president. They also didn't want him to be embarrassed and instead give him a "cheerful exit".[9] Following appeal made by many to probe the outgoing administration, President Jonathan during a valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council, said that any future probe should be "extended beyond [his] administration. Otherwise.. it [would] be witch-hunt".[10]

Suleiman Hashimu walked 750 km from Lagos to Abuja, fulfilling his vow that he had made if General Buhari won the presidency. It took him 18 days to trek the route. He had taken with him ₦100,000 ($500) but only spent ₦3,500 as he was catered for by the people along the way.[11]

Pre-inaugural events
DateActivityVenue
Friday, 22 MayJumu'ah (Friday) PrayersAbuja National Mosque
Sunday, 24 MayChurch Service and ThanksgivingNational Church of Nigeria
Thursday, 28 MayInauguration DinnerState House Conference Hall

Inaugural events

Swearing-in-Ceremony

The official swearing-in ceremony took place at Eagle Square in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory from 0800 hours (UTC+1).[12] Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed administered the oath of office taken by President elect Buhari. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was sworn in at 10:41 AM. President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in at 10:51 AM after which he delivered his inaugural speech.

Inauguration speech (excerpt)

Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.

Furthermore, we as Nigerians must remind ourselves that we are heirs to great civilizations: Shehu Othman Dan Fodio’s caliphate, the Kanem Borno Empire, the Oyo Empire, the Benin Empire and King Jaja’s formidable domain. The blood of those great ancestors flow in our veins.

The most immediate [challenge] is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory can not be achieved by basing the command and control Centre in Abuja. [It] will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued. But we can not claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents. This government will do all it can to rescue them alive. Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam as one can think of.

It is a national shame that an economy of 180 million [people] generates only 4,000 MW, and distributes even less.

— Muhammadu Buhari[13]

Inauguration Luncheon

A luncheon was held at the State House Banquet Hall at midday. President Buhari left the programme midway in order to attend the Friday weekly prayers.[14]

Inauguration Gala

A gala was held in the evening.

Attendance

Invitations were sent to 54 African countries and other nations.[1] Outgoing First Lady Patience Jonathan did not attend the ceremony.[15] Former Nigerian Heads of State who were in attendance included General Yakubu Gowon, President Shehu Shagari (ousted by Buhari), General Ibrahim Babangida (deposed Buhari), Interim President Ernest Shonekan, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and General Olusegun Obasanjo.[16]

Dignitaries
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
President Jonathan with Buhari.
Security personnel hold hands to form human chain.
Country Title Dignitary
 AngolaVice PresidentManuel Vicente[17]
 BeninPresidentThomas Boni Yayi[18]
 Burkina FasoPresidentMichel Kafando[19]
 ChadPresidentIdriss Déby[20]
 Congo–BrazzavillePresidentDenis Sassou Nguesso[21]
 EthiopiaPrime MinisterHaile Mariam Desalegne[22]
 Equatorial GuineaPresidentTeodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo[23]
 GabonPresidentAli Bongo Ondimba[24]
 GambiaVice PresidentIsatou Njie-Saidy[25]
 GhanaPresidentJohn Mahama[26]
 GuineaPresidentAlpha Condé[27]
 KenyaDeputy PresidentWilliam Ruto[28]
 LiberiaPresidentEllen Johnson Sirleaf[29]
 MaliPresidentIbrahim Boubacar Keïta[30]
 MozambiquePresidentFilipe Nyusi[31]
 NamibiaPresidentHage Geingob[32]
 NigerPresidentMahamadou Issoufou[18]
 RwandaPresidentPaul Kagame[33]
 Sahrawi RepublicPrime MinisterAbdelkader Taleb Omar[34]
 São Tomé and PríncipePresidentManuel Pinto da Costa[35]
 SenegalPresidentMacky Sall[36]
 Sierra LeonePresidentErnest Bai Koroma[37]
 SomaliaPresidentHassan Sheikh Mohamud[38]
 South AfricaPresidentJacob Zuma[39]
 South SudanVice PresidentJames Wani Igga
 SwazilandKingMswati III[40]
 TanzaniaVice PresidentMohamed Gharib Bilal[41]
 TogoPresidentFaure Gnassingbé[42]
 ZambiaVice PresidentInonge Wina[43]
 ZimbabwePresidentRobert Mugabe[44]

Spouses of HOSG
Country Title Dignitary
 NamibiaFirst LadyMonica Geingob[32]
 TanzaniaSecond LadyAsha Bilal[41]

Government representatives
Secretary Kerry waves Upon arriving at Eagle Square
Buhari with John Kerry.
Country Title Dignitary
 AlgeriaSpeakerMohamed Larbi Ould Khelifa[45]
 BotswanaForeign MinisterPelonomi Venson-Moitoi[46]
 CameroonVice Prime MinisterAmadou Ali[47]
 ChinaAgriculture MinisterHan Changfu[48]
 Côte d'IvoireForeign MinisterCharles Koffi Diby[49]
 EgyptForeign MinisterSameh Shoukry[50]
 FranceForeign MinisterLaurent Fabius[12]
 NamibiaForeign MinisterNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah[32]
 QatarDeputy Prime MinisterAhmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud[51]
 RussiaForeign MinisterSergei Lavrov[52]
 SomaliaForeign MinisterAbdi Salan Hdaliye[38]
 South AfricaForeign MinisterMaite Nkoana-Mashabane[53]
 South KoreaSpecial EnvoyLee Ju-young[54]
 United KingdomForeign SecretaryPhilip Hammond[55]
 United StatesSecretary of StateJohn Kerry[56]
 ZimbabweForeign MinisterSimbarashe Mumbengegwi[44]

International organisations
Organisation Title Dignitary
African UnionChairperson of the AU CommissionNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma[57]

Controversies
Kenyatta
Mugabe

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was scheduled to attend the ceremony but cancelled following outrage from Kenyans when details of his 84-member entourage was leaked.[58] The Kenyan Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary denied these reports and described the list as fake. Citizen News reported that the two-day trip would have cost at least KSh 20 million (about $200,000) in allowances and airfare.[59] Instead, Deputy President William Ruto accompanied by ten officials, represented the president.[60]

At the inauguration ceremony, Sahara Reporters' Adeola Fayehun asked Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe when he would be stepping down.[61] Fayehun asked him if there was democracy in Zimbabwe and that it was time for him to step down.[62] Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba described the reporters as "activists with cameras" and that they "took advantage of protocol restrictions that were imposed on delegations."[63] Zimbabwe's Information Minister Jonathan Moyo tweeted that the reporters were "political activists masquerading as journalists who imagine their country as a model of democracy."[64] Moyo also stated that "free countries have rules including diplomatic courtesy not the display of Boko Haram journalism."[65]

References
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