Buhari”s Inauguration Will Be A Low-Key Affair- Presidency
The Federal Government said on Monday the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term on May 29 would be a low-key affair.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in Abuja.
Mohammed explained that most of the activities usually lined up for presidential inauguration had been moved to June 12, the new Democracy Day in the country.
He added that world leaders were invited to be in the country on June 12.
The minister, who addressed a news conference at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stated, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration for a second term on May 29, 2019, will be a low-key affair, as a number of the events slated for the inauguration will now be held during the first observance of June 12 as the National Democracy Day.
“The decision to have a low-key inauguration for the President was taken at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday, 8 May 2019.
“However, invitations have been sent to all world leaders to attend the ceremonies marking the observance of the Democracy Day on June 12.
“Since the first observance of June 12 as Democracy Day falls into an election year, and as a measure to sustain June 12 as Democracy Day, the celebration of the inauguration and the advancement of democracy in the country will now take place on June 12.
“The country can ill-afford two major celebrations within a two-week interval.
“Detail of the events slated for the two ceremonies will be unveiled at a world press conference slated for May 20 in Abuja.”
Recall that Buhari had last year approved that June 12 should be Nigeria’s new Democracy Day and not May 29.
This was to honour the late MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Buhari also conferred a posthumous title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic on Abiola.
The House of Representatives, in a follow-up, amended the Public Holidays Act 2004, to accommodate June 12 as a public holiday in the country.