The inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as the
15th
15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 (number), 14 and preceding 16 (number), 16.
Mathematics
15 is:
* A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and .
* A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky ...
President of Nigeria
The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of state and head of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Niger ...
, and 4th President in the
fourth Nigerian Republic
The Fourth Republic is the current republican government of Nigeria. Since 1999, it has governed the country according to the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Second Republic, which was in place between 1979 and ...
took place on Friday, 29 May 2015. It marked the beginning of the first term of
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician and current president of Nigeria since 2015.
Buhari is a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as the country's military head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 Au ...
as President following the
2015 general election.
The
Federal Government
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
declared 29 May a public holiday. More than fifty representatives from foreign governments were expected to attend the inauguration. The government intended to spend less than
₦
The naira ( sign: ₦; code: NGN) is the currency of Nigeria. One naira is divided into 100 ''kobo''.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the sole issuer of legal tender money throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It controls the vol ...
2 billion (US$10 million) for the ceremony.
The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) seeking to restrain President Muhammadu Buhari from being sworn in for a second term on May 29, 2019.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Buhari winner of the February 23 presidential election with a total of 15,191,847 votes.
However, the HDP and its presidential candidate, Ambrose Oworu, filed a petition before the tribunal to nullify the election on the grounds of INEC's non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
While delivering judgement on Wednesday, May 22, 2019, the three-member panel of the tribunal ruled that the petitioners' application lacked merit and dismissed it
Pulse.ng
Background
Buhari won the presidential election by more than 2.5 million votes.
On 17 May 2015, Buhari's campaign spokesperson said that following the inauguration, the President "would simply be addressed as Muhammadu Buhari, President and
Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." He would also not prefer to be addressed as "
Mr.
''Mister'', usually written in its contracted form ''Mr.'' or ''Mr'', is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office. The title 'Mr' derived from earlier ...
,
Alhaji
Hajji ( ar, الحجّي; sometimes spelled Hadji, Haji, Alhaji, Al-Hadj, Al-Haj or El-Hajj) is an honorific title which is given to a Muslim who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca. It is also often used to refer to an elder, since it ...
or
Mallam". Buhari's
official portrait was also unveiled on the same day.
On 24 May 2015, the
All Progressives Congress
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is one of the two major contemporary political parties in Nigeria, along with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Founded on 6 February 2013 from a merger of Nigeria's three largest opposition parties, the ...
issued a statement saying that outgoing President
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957)Lawson Heyford, ''The Source'' (Lagos), 11 December 2006. is a Nigerian politician who served as the President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to fo ...
was "handing over a nation in deep crisis" and that there was "no electricity, no fuel, workers are on strike, billions are owed to state and federal workers, $60 billion are owed in national debt and the economy is virtually grounded".
On 26 May 2015, the
National Union of Nigerian Students
National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) was a students' union bringing together Nigerian students both within Nigeria and across the diaspora.
NUNS was founded in 1956, following structural changes in the West African Students' Union. It brough ...
issued a statement saying that South African President
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...
was not welcome due to his "poor handling" of the recent
xenophobic
Xenophobia () is the fear or dislike of anything which is perceived as being foreign or strange. It is an expression of perceived conflict between an in-group and out-group and may manifest in suspicion by the one of the other's activities, a ...
attacks against
foreign nationals
A foreign national is any person (including an organization) who is not a national of a specific country. ("The term 'person' means an individual or an organization.") For example, in the United States and in its territories, a foreign national ...
in his country. It also stated that there is "no point felicitating with a people who clearly do not matter much to you" and his visit will only amount to
pretence
Pretense or pretence may refer to:
* pretext
* pretexting (social engineering)
* "Pretense" (''Stargate SG-1''), an episode of ''Stargate SG-1''
* "Pretense", a song by Knuckle Puck from their 2015 album '' Copacetic''
* "Pretence", a song by Joli ...
.
On 27 May 2015, ''
Premium Times
''Premium Times'' is a Nigerian online newspaper based in Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory. It was launched in 2011. The online medium is notable for investigative journalism and Reports among other fields.
Awards and nominations
In 2013 ...
'' reported that the ruling
People's Democratic Party People's Democratic Party or ''variant thereof'', could refer to:
* People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
*People's Democratic Party (Belize)
*People's Democratic Party (Bhutan)
*People's Democratic Party (Chile)
* People's Democratic Party (Dom ...
had deliberately received the bulk of the 5,000 invitation cards as there were plans to allegedly
boo the outgoing president. They also didn't want him to be embarrassed and instead give him a "cheerful exit". Following appeal made by many to probe the
outgoing administration, President Jonathan during a valedictory session of the
Federal Executive Council, said that any future probe should be "extended beyond
isadministration. Otherwise.. it
ould Ould is an English surname and an Arabic name ( ar, ولد). In some Arabic dialects, particularly Hassaniya Arabic, ولد (the patronymic, meaning "son of") is transliterated as Ould. Most Mauritanians have patronymic surnames.
Notable p ...
be witch-hunt".
Suleiman Hashimu walked 750 km from
Lagos
Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...
to Abuja, fulfilling his
vow
A vow ( Lat. ''votum'', vow, promise; see vote) is a promise or oath.
A vow is used as a promise, a promise solemn rather than casual.
Marriage vows
Marriage vows are binding promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a wedd ...
that he had made if General Buhari won the presidency. It took him 18 days to trek the route. He had taken with him ₦100,000 ($500) but only spent ₦3,500 as he was catered for by the people along the way.
Pre-inaugural events
Inaugural events
Swearing-in-Ceremony
The official
swearing-in
Traditionally an oath (from Anglo-Saxon ', also called plight) is either a statement of fact or a promise taken by a sacrality as a sign of verity. A common legal substitute for those who conscientiously object to making sacred oaths is to giv ...
ceremony took place at
Eagle Square in Abuja, the
Federal Capital Territory
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or a ...
from 0800 hours (
UTC+1).
Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed administered the oath of office taken by President elect Buhari.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was sworn in at 10:41 AM. President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in at 10:51 AM after which he delivered his inaugural speech.
Inauguration speech (excerpt)
Inauguration Luncheon
A
luncheon
Lunch is a meal eaten around the middle of the day. It is commonly the second meal of the day, after breakfast, and varies in size by culture and region.
Etymology
According to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED''), the etymology ...
was held at the State House Banquet Hall at midday. President Buhari left the programme midway in order to attend the
Friday weekly prayers.
Inauguration Gala
A gala was held in the evening.
Attendance
Invitations were sent to
54 African countries and other nations.
Outgoing First Lady
Patience Jonathan
Dame Patience Faka Jonathan (''née'' iwari)(born 25 October 1957) is a Nigerian civil servant who served as the First Lady of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015 and second lady of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. She is the wife of former president and Vice p ...
did not attend the ceremony. Former Nigerian Heads of State who were in attendance included General
Yakubu Gowon
Yakubu Dan-Yumma 'Jack' Gowon (born 19 October 1934) is a retired Nigerian Army general and military leader. As Head of State of Nigeria, Gowon presided over a controversial Nigerian Civil War and delivered the famous "no victor, no vanquish ...
, President
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (25 February 1925 – 28 December 2018), titled Turakin Sokoto from 1962, was the first democratically elected President of Nigeria, after the transfer of power by military head of state General Olusegun Obasanjo in ...
(
ousted by Buhari), General
Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (born 17 August, 1941) is a retired Nigerian Army general and politician. He served as military president of Nigeria from 1985 until his resignation in 1993. He rose through the ranks to serve from 1984 to 1985 as Ch ...
(deposed Buhari), Interim President
Ernest Shonekan
Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan (9 May 1936 – 11 January 2022) was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of State of Nigeria from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993. He was titled Abese of Egbaland from ...
, General
Abdulsalami Abubakar
Abdulsalami Abubakar (; born 13 June 1942) is a Nigerian statesman and retired Nigerian Army general who served as the ''de facto'' President of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999. He was also Chief of Defence Staff between 1997 and 1998. He succeede ...
and General
Olusegun Obasanjo
Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, , ( ; yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its pres ...
.
Dignitaries
Spouses of HOSG
Government representatives
International organisations
Controversies
Kenyan President
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (born 26 October 1961) is a Kenyan politician who served as the fourth president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022.
Kenyatta was chosen by Daniel Arap Moi as his preferred successor, but Kenyatta was defeated by opposition le ...
was scheduled to attend the ceremony but cancelled following outrage from Kenyans when details of his 84-member entourage was leaked.
The Kenyan Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary denied these reports and described the list as fake.
Citizen News
Citizen News or CitizenNews () was an online news website based in Hong Kong. The platform was launched on 1 January 2017 and shut down on 4 January 2022 amid a government crackdown on news media.
Establishment and growth
Citizen News was esta ...
reported that the two-day trip would have cost at least
KSh. (about US$200,000) in allowances and airfare. Instead, Deputy President
William Ruto
William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto (born 21 December 1966) is a Kenyan politician who is serving as the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the 11th deputy president of Ken ...
accompanied by ten officials, represented the president.
At the inauguration ceremony,
Sahara Reporters
Sahara Reporters is an online news agency based in New York City that focuses on promoting citizen journalism by encouraging everyday people to report stories about corruption, human rights abuses and other political misconduct in Africa, with s ...
'
Adeola Fayehun asked Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe (; ; 21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He served as Leader of the ...
when he would be stepping down. Fayehun asked him if there was democracy in Zimbabwe and that it was time for him to step down. Mugabe's spokesperson
George Charamba
George Charamba is the Deputy Chief Secretary-Presidential Communications in the Office of the President of Zimbabwe and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services (Zimbabwe), Ministry of Informa ...
described the reporters as "activists with cameras" and that they "took advantage of protocol restrictions that were imposed on delegations." Zimbabwe's Information Minister
Jonathan Moyo
Jonathan Nathaniel Mlevu Moyo (born 12 January 1957) is a Zimbabwean politician who served in the government of Zimbabwe as Minister of Higher Education from 2015 to 2017. He was previously Minister of Information and Publicity from 2000 to 2005 ...
tweeted that the reporters were "political activists masquerading as journalists who imagine their country as a model of democracy." Moyo also stated that "free countries have rules including diplomatic courtesy not the display of
Boko Haram
Boko Haram, officially known as ''Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād'' ( ar, جماعة أهل السنة للدعوة والجهاد, lit=Group of the People of Sunnah for Dawah and Jihad), is an Islamic terrorist organization ...
journalism."
References
External links
www.thisisbuhari.comProgramme of Activities State House Nigeria.
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buhari
Presidential inaugurations
2015 in Nigeria
Politics of Nigeria
2015 in politics
Muhammadu Buhari
May 2015 events in Nigeria