News
May 28 or 29? Hassles of a handover date
Since the return to democracy in Nigeria, May 29 has become sacrosanct as democracy day, and a public holiday is usually fixed for that day, for citizens to celebrate the reign of participatory governance in the nation’s history.
But now, both the incoming and outgoing administrations are creating a lot of hassles over the date of handover of government, about to turn a seemingly joyous moment, into their usual avenue for politicking, and propaganda.
Indications have emerged that the outgoing government, and the incoming one may be heading for a showdown over the date for the handover.
Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, had revealed that President Goodluck Jonathan would perform the handover ceremony at a dinner on May 28, while reserving May 29 for the incoming government.
She had said, “You know May 29 is our Democracy Day. So, we have activities lined up all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all other things we do normally on our Democracy Day except that this year is special with the inauguration of our new president that is coming up on May 29.”
But a member of the Buhari campaign team, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, faulted the May 28 date, saying, “It portends ill for the political destiny of this nation.”
Another top member of the APC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “It is simply not acceptable, we are rejecting it, it is a trap.”
He explained that from a security point of view, it could be considered a trap.
“How can anyone explain a situation where an outgoing president and his team will conveniently excuse themselves from an event where they are supposed to play a role when the President-elect and the Vice-President- elect are supposed to be present?” he queried.
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...