Jonathan hands over power on May 28

Jonathan hands over power on May 28

President Goodluck Jonathan will hand over the reigns of affairs of the country to
the President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on May 28, about 24
hours before Buhari’s inauguration.
Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, disclosed this to State House
correspondents on Wednesday at the end of the Federal Executive Council
meeting presided over by Jonathan.
Akwashiki said Jonathan would hand over to Buhari at a dinner on the eve of the
May 29 Democracy Day.
She said, “By May 28, the President intends to have the formal handing over done
at a dinner so that we can reserve May 29 for the incoming government.
“By May 28, we are expected to have concluded our own government and we are
welcoming the incoming government.
“Also 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.”
She added that the President had directed all Ministries, Departments and
Agencies to prepare their handover notes and submit same to the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, on or before April 20.
She said it was Anyim’s responsibility to compile the notes which will form
Jonathan’s handover document to his successor.
She further said while the valedictory FEC meeting would hold on May 20,
everything that requires the President’s approval must be presented to him latest
on May 13 so that the incoming government would not accuse him of rushing
projects.
The minister added that Jonathan had directed MDAs to brief him on inherited
projects and the ones initiated by his administration under their jurisdiction.
She said the briefings were expected to include the status of the projects and
levels of implementation.
The minister added, “The President emphasised on the need for all MDAs to
submit their handing over notes to the Office of the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation by 20th of this month, that is next Monday. So we are going to
be very busy this weekend putting our handing over notes together.
“The President also emphasised that he would require another little briefing from
all MDAs to indicate inherited projects, how far they have been executed and
initiated projects by his administration and the level of completion, whether
completed, ongoing or abandoned.”
She said the present administration was doing everything possible to ensure
smooth transition, adding that Vice President Namadi Sambo is heading the
government’s transition committee while Anyim is heading the inauguration
committee.
Akwashiki however said notwithstanding the transition programme, governance
had not stopped in the country.
“That is not to say that governance has stopped, of course we are in government
until the day the President-elect takes his oath of office,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; and
the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, were among a few ministers
who did not attend the Wednesday meeting.
The meeting was the first one held after the March 28 presidential election which
Jonathan lost to Buhari.
Before the President arrived the venue, some ministers, especially the core
politicians among them used the opportunity to review the polls and their
performances in their various states.
They formed small groups to take stock zone-by-zone.
Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan; Minister of State II, Foreign Affairs,
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke
Akinjide; and the Minister of State, Works, Dayo Adeyeye, were seen engrossed in
discussion on the Peoples Democratic Party’s performance in the South West
while awaiting Jonathan’s arrival at the venue.