NIGERIA’S MAY 29 INAUGURATION CEREMONY!
‘Jonathan, you’re Hero of Nigeria’s Modern Democracy’, says Nigerian-American Press Association
* ‘You’ve brought Honor to Nigeria Globally’, Buhari tells Jonathan
*Buhari: “You have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders”
*Nigerians witness Peaceful Transition, Takes to Social Media trend
*Nigerian Masses Urge Buhari to Speedily fulfill his Electoral-Manifesto
*Nigerians list problems: ‘Unemployment, No Electricity, No Fuel, Inflation, Corruption, Nigeria’s $60billion External Debt’
* PLUS Jonathan Receives Heroic welcome in Home State-Bayelsa
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU, CNN iReport, NORTH AMERICA & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NAIJA STANDARD
ENCOMIUMS, commendation, ovation keep flowing in form of appreciation by Nigerians at home, Nigerians abroad and world leaders hailing Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, immediate past President of Nigeria for peacefully midwifing a credible, historic and noble power-transfer from erstwhile Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), then ruling party to Muhammadu Buhari, newly elected sworn-in President under the auspice of All Progressives Party (APC), now ruling party at the Eagle Square, Abuja today.
‘Jonathan, you’re Hero of Nigeria’s Modern Democracy’, says Nigerian-American Press Association
Practicing Nigerian and American journalists in United States under the aegis of Nigerian-American Press Association (NAPA) corroborated this view in a communique issued by Samson Shoaga, Executive Secretary. He told CNN iReport that “Outgone President Jonathan has earned respect for himself, like the ‘Mandela of South Africa’ by leaving behind in African continent a lasting legacy as the hero of Nigeria’s Modern Democracy. He is humble, God-fearing and kept his promises with the people of Nigeria to create an enabling ground for an evergreen free, fair, election. His concession of defeat to President Buhari even while election results were still been collated in some states, made him to raise a democratic standard in Africa”.
Coming from Buhari during inauguration in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he poured accolades on his predecessor by saying for Jonathan to have swiftly conceded defeat with a phone call to him, his main challenger in the 28 March presidential election even before the full announcement of the result of the polls gave him a honor.
In Buhari’s words: “But what I will say is since the telephone call you made, you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history. For that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilizing this system of mulch-party democracy and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.
“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand, a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.
“If you had wanted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of lives of poor Nigerians, but you chose the path of honor and may God help all of us. Thank you very much your Excellency.”
Earlier yesterday, the handover ceremony was followed by a guided tour of offices and facilities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja conducted for Buhari and the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, by Jonathan and then Vice President, Namadi Sambo respectively.
While speaking after the presentation which was done inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa after receiving the documents, Buhari said he will not be able to comment on the notes handed over to him by the President until he read and digested it.
The president who was accompanied by some APC chieftains noted that the President has helped stabilize Nigeria’s democracy with the phone call he made to concede defeat even before the conclusion of tallies of all the ballots for the presidential election.
Nigerians witness Peaceful Transition, Takes to Social Media trend
CNN iReport observes that Nigerians from all walks of life are so elated with Buhari now in saddle of power, as they are all full of praises to Jonathan for ensuring peace reigns before, during and after Transition Committee ceremony. For this reason, majority of Nigerians have now taken to social media to express their deep appreciation to Buhari for fluidity of understanding that exist between him and his predecessor.
Nigerian Masses Urge Buhari to Speedily fulfill his Electoral-Manifesto
A holistic view of gargantuan problems facing Nigerians have been laid bare by the masses to Buhari so he can work his talk and hit the ground running. These problems are listed as: ‘Unemployment, No Electricity, No Fuel, Inflation, Corruption, Nigeria’s $60billion External Debt’.
Jonathan receives Heroic Welcome in Home Country
Immediately after the Inauguration ceremony, Jonathan was flown in one of Nigeria’s President air fleets to Bayelsa State, his home country, where women, men, adult, young, school children and artisans gaily dressed received him, sang, danced and heaped on him a heroic status.
