Playing politics with handover
SIR: It is just well that the Federal Government has recanted on an earlier announcement to hand over government on May 28. The other day, as I opened my phone to make a call, I stumbled on this piece of information online, credited to the Minister of Information, that President Goodluck Jonathan plans to hand over the reins of power to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, at a dinner on May28 – about eight hours ahead of the usual May 29 official oath-taking date by the new President.
What actually caught my attention was the way the news was captioned, “Nigeria to be without President for eight hours”, I ha wanted to waive the news aside as another social-media hype, but the spirit in me would not allow it. And the questions arose: “What occasion really makes the President? Is it the handover ceremony by the outgoing President or the swearing-in to be presided-over by the Chief Justice of the Federation?
In other words, can the President-elect assume executive powers “immediately after the handover ceremony even when he has not taken the oath of office which is expected to be performed on May 29? Taking it further, who takes charge during the eight-hour interlude in case of a national emergency? Should the eight-hour interlude of a nation without a de-facto leader which may eventually form a vaccum in our constitutional development have been allowed if there was no volte face ?
If President Goodluck Jonathan is not willing to be at the Eagles’ Square on May 29, he could as well have planned the ceremony for the Presidential Villa on Democracy Day to avoid any lacuna. The President has done well by conceding victory. And we urge him not to leave the ship of state rudderless at the threshold of another harbour. He should anchor the ship.
•Gbemiga Olakunle,
National Prayer Movement.
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3 Comments
This is well said…infact this impromptu arrangement of handing over date spells s bad omen. A yoruba proverbs says “do it the it must be done….so that it will be the way it ought to be” if he has conceeded victory then should be man enough to finish his tenure most gallantly with the most prestigious manner. GMB i know been a man of principle willn`t be fooled to accept such absurdity in relegating the Nigerian constitution into a mere saviette at a banquette as an official handing over no way that will never happen. So i urge Nigerians to keep calm and be patient the end of a government without direction is just about arriving at the shore.
whatever rational behind ill-conceived ideas for handing over before the constitutionally stipulated date will be repudiated by Nigerians. In history his dispensation is worst time ever, as intend to privatize virtually public utilities, government known for ineptitude, inefficient and incapable, GEJ Ph’d is questionable to me, he does not merit the certificate he is carrying. massive corruption and killings with reckless abandon is the first of its kind going by what i read on pages of national dailies. God will judge us all one day. What we need now in Nigeria, is imminent prayers continuously. A responsible government globally respond to crisis as quickly as possible, but GEJ and his collaborators allowed the wanton killings in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State and many parts of the country, the lingering crisis is still on!!!!!
Enough of the bloodshed, please some body should intervene and bring the crisis to a permanent end, for peace to return, they are peace lovers but now suing for peace which is not negotiable
The plain truth is GEJ conceded defeat by force…he had no choice seeing the international community and Nigerians breathing down his neck. This is the reason why the hullabaloo of the 28th May handover date instead of the 29th. If GEJ hands over on the 28th it wouldn’t change anything; he remains President until May 29th and GMB becomes president after swearing-in on 29th May. And the 29th May is the denominator in this equation; one must leave and another must come in, a displacement reaction. In the end, no one can steal Buhari’s mandate. There is what we call National Interest and Rule of Law. It must be understood that though National Interest may not be in any Constitution, it is always above the law.
We will review and take appropriate action.