Tinubu, Shettima bag GCFR, GCON May 25
The presidential transition committee has revealed that Nigeria’s president-elect and vice president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Kashim Shettima, would receive the national honours of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic and Grand Commander of Order of the Niger respectively on May 25.
The event comes four days before the actual inauguration of Tinubu as Nigeria’s president.
Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the federation who doubles as the transition committee chairperson, revealed this as part of the programme line-up for the inauguration.
Mustapha equally said that the former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, would give an inauguration lecture on the topic, ‘Deepening Democracy for Integration and Development’ on May 27.
Other activities slated for the event include a regimental dinner, on May 23, at the Armed Forces Officers’ mess in honour of Tinubu. Preceding it is a valedictory federal executive council meeting, on May 24; public lecture and Juma’at prayer at the National Mosque, May 26; and Children’s Day parade and party on May 27.
On May 28, an Inter-denominational church Service would hold at the National Christian Centre, and an inauguration dinner/gala night later on the same day. The inauguration proper would hold May 29.
“The upcoming event is historically significant to this great nation and the international community, particularly Africa because of the democratic values and lessons in nationhood. For these reasons, we have chosen, ‘Nigeria: Better Together’, as the theme for the 2023 transition.
Mustapha added that several world leaders have been invited. Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state, would be inaugurated as Nigeria’s 16th president.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared him the winner of the February 25 poll but two of his challengers have filed petitions before the presidential election petitions court urging it to nullify Tinubu’s victory.
Each of Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Peter Obi, of the Labour Party, has claimed to have won the poll while urging the court to declare either the winner.
