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Tag: Inauguration

  • Biden hints at scaled down inauguration

    Biden hints at scaled down inauguration

    U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has given a preview of what his January inauguration will look like, noting that the event will not be typical due to the pandemic.

    “We’re gonna follow again the science and recommendation of the experts on keeping people safe.

    “So, it is highly unlikely there’ll be a million people on the mall going all the way down,” Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware.

    He added: “I think you’re going to see something that’s closer to what the convention was like, than the typical inauguration,” referring to the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which was held primarily online.

    “First and foremost, my objective is to keep America safe and still allow people to celebrate.

    “To celebrate and see one another celebrate,” he noted.

    The president-elect said discussions are currently ongoing with leading members of congress.

    Biden hinted that the large, in-person events that are usually held during a presidential inauguration, including a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC, will likely not take place.

    He also spoke of “a lot of virtual activity in states all across America, engaging even more people than before.”

    The inauguration will be held on January 20, and the number of confirmed coronavirus cases is expected to continue to rise until then.

    The number of coronavirus cases in the US has spiked sharply in recent weeks.

    More than 14.14 million Americans have been infected with the novel virus since the beginning of the outbreak and over 276,000 people have died from the disease, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

  • VIDEO: Obaseki’s ADC, paramilitary officer collapse during inauguration

    VIDEO: Obaseki’s ADC, paramilitary officer collapse during inauguration

    The Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, in ceremonial police uniform, and a female para-military officer, also in uniform (names withheld), earlier Thursday collapsed at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, during the second-term inauguration of the governor and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, thereby causing commotion.

    The collapse of the ADC, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and the female officer happened around 12 noon.

    https://twitter.com/samueladeoyo/status/1326883599849828354?s=21

    The para-military officer first collapsed, but she was quickly revived, while the ADC slumped while Obaseki was midway into reading his seven-page inauguration speech.

    The Edo Commissioner for Health, Dr. Patrick Okundia, and some operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) later revived the ADC.

  • Olujimi declares inauguration of Fayose’s Loyalists as Ekiti PDP Ward Excos Illegal

    Olujimi declares inauguration of Fayose’s Loyalists as Ekiti PDP Ward Excos Illegal

    A section of the Ekiti State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party loyal to Senator Biodun Olujimi has faulted the inauguration of the ward executives of the party in the state without following due process.

    Olujimi said the state leadership of the party has taken definite position on the controversy surrounding the conduct of the ward Congress in Ekiti, by swearing-in the authentic ward leaders on Friday, may 1, in line with court’s pronouncement and party’s constitution.

    The Senator thereby described the inauguration done by Fayose on April 30 as illegal, null and void.

    The party, had in March conducted two congresses in Ekiti, with former Governor Ayodele Fayose group laying claim to victory for his faction while Olujimi had insisted that it was the Congress conducted by her faction that must be recognised.

    A statement by one Engr. Alaba Agboola, Chairman, Ekiti PDP Repositioning Movement, on behalf of Senator Olujimi urged the party members to discountenance the said inauguration.

    Olujimi insisted that the group inaugurted by Gboyega Oguntuase- led State Working Committee of the party was the authentic ward executive of the party in Ekiti.

    “Our attention has been drawn to a purported inauguration of Ward Executives in Ekiti state on 30th April ,2020 by one Barrister Niyi Idowu who is based in Lagos and not a member of our party, PDP.

    “We wish to state categorically that no such inauguration ever took place in Ekiti State and we stand solidly by the position of the State Executive Committee of the Party as expressed by its Chairman, Gboyega Oguntuase to the effect that the said purported inauguration has no basis in law and fact should be disregarded.

    “Our people should learn lessons from the pronouncement of our Courts to the effect that only the State organ of a Party can inaugurate its local chapters.

    “This is the extant position of the law as pronounced by a High Court in Calabar just a few days ago.

    “The true position of events in Ekiti State is that only the Ward Executives elected on 7th March 2020 conducted by the PDP and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission, and security agencies in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Section 85 and 86 of the Electoral Act remain authentic and have assumed to work as from 1st May 2020.

    “As the tenure of the last Ward Executive ended at 12 midnight on 30th April 2020, the tenure of the authentic Ward Executives begins from today and they have been duly inaugurated and begun to function”.

    Olujimi charged the new ward executives to carry every member of the party along in decision making and embark on aggressive mobilization of all factions in their various Wards to building a united, cohesive and well grounded PDP in Ekiti.

    Olujimi therefore directed the new Ward Executives to begin to hold their meetings in line with government directives as it concerns COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The authentic list of the Ward Executives in Ekiti State shall be published in due course.We congratulate them and wish them a successful tenure in office”, she said.

  • I’ll assign portfolio to ministers at inauguration – Buhari

    I’ll assign portfolio to ministers at inauguration – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, disclosed that he will assign portfolio to members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) who have been confirmed by the Senate at the point of inauguration.

    The President, however, did not mention any particular date for the inauguration of the new ministers.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, commended the Senate for its diligence and prompt confirmation of his ministerial nominees.

    He said: “Specific portfolios shall be assigned with the inauguration of the cabinet.”

    Buhari also expressed satisfaction in the process which he described as swift and efficient.

    According to the President, the people of Nigeria want results, and with this list of ministers, we are confident they shall be delivered.

    “This is a fine, capable and committed group of individuals. Working together, they shall help achieve what we all want and labour toward: a secure, prosperous, corruption-free nation in which nobody is left behind, and talents can flourish.

    “The executive approaches this 9th National Assembly with a renewed spirit of openness and enthusiasm. Where once we sometimes found impasse, we welcome collaboration; where once suspicion took hold, together, we shall demonstrate mutual trust.

    “Scrutiny should never mean deadlock but proper governance. And with a new swathe of national legislators and ministers, we are confident the executive and the legislature can – in partnership – unleash the change Nigerians deserve,” he added.

  • Ninth Assembly for inauguration June 11

    Ninth Assembly for inauguration June 11

    The Ninth National Assembly will be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 11, TNG reports.

    TNG learnt that a Presidential Proclamation document on the inauguration had been forwarded to the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly.

    The document dated May 30 and signed by President Muhammadu Buahri, slated next Tuesday June for the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly.

    A source at the office of Mr. Mohammed Sani-Omolori (Clerk to National Assembly), confirmed the receipt of the letter for the Proclamation of the Ninth National Assembly.

    Although the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang, claimed ignorance of the document, but a Presidency source confirmed that the document originated from the President’s table.

    The letter was titled: “President, Federal Republic of Nigeria Proclamation for the holding of the first session of the 9th National Assembly.”

    It reads: “Whereas it is provided in Section 64(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) that the person elected as President shall have power to issue a Proclamation for the holding of the first session of the National Assembly immediately after his being sworn-in.

    “Now, therefore, I, Muhammadu Buhari, President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers bestowed upon me by Section 64 (3) aforesaid and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, hereby proclaim me in that behalf, hereby proclaim that the first session of the Ninth (9th) National Assembly shall hold at 10:00am on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019 in the National Assembly, Abuja.

    “Given under my hand and the public seal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Abuja, this 30th day of May, 2019.”

    The National Assembly has fixed Thursday for the valedictory section for senators and members of the House of Representatives

    It is expected that party members will take position on the election of the presiding officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly on the inauguration day.

  • Buhari to inaugurate 820 buses, MMIA Road, Oshodi interchange, others today

    Barring any last-minute change in plans, President Muhammadu Buhari will be in Lagos today for a working visit. He is billed to inaugurate five projects.

    Security operatives, including the Police and men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), were seen yesterday taking positions in the areas to be visited by the President.

    Listed by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for inauguration are: the 170-bed Institute of Maternal and Child Health at Ayinke House; the 10-lane Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road and the Lagos State Theatre, located at Oregun.

    The highpoint of President Buhari’s visit, according to the governor’s spokesman, Habib Aruna, is the inauguration of the Oshodi Transportation Interchange, and the 820 Mass Transit Buses.

    According to him, the interchange would cater for one million passenger traffic daily, with each of the terminals accommodating at least 300,000 passengers daily.

    The interchange and the new buses, he explained, are part of the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) of the Ambode-led administration.

    Aruna noted that the interchange would afford Lagosians a new transportation experience that would ease commuters’ transportation stress.

    The Lagos Theatre at Oregun, another project to be opened by the President, was also an initiative of the Ambode administration to reposition arts, culture and theatre as a major economic hub of the government.

    Aruna said: “The President would also be visiting the Ayinke House where he would be declaring open the 170-bed Maternal and Child Health at Ayinke House. The Centre had been upgraded by former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

    “Today’s visit is the second by President Muhammadu Buhari, who on March 29, 2018, inaugurated the Ikeja Bus Terminal, as part of activities slated to celebrate the birthday of All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

  • Atiku reacts to allegations of ‘hiring US lobby group’ to stop Buhari’s second term inauguration

    Atiku reacts to allegations of ‘hiring US lobby group’ to stop Buhari’s second term inauguration

    Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar dismisses as “total fabrication” the latest allegation instigated by the Buhari campaign that he spent $30,000 to hire a US lobby group to persuade the US Congress to stop the inauguration of President Buhari.

    Reacting to what he calls “shameless lies”, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, says the latest dirty propaganda against the former Vice President “didn’t come as a surprise to us because lying has so far become their only bragging rights of competence.”

    In a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, Mr. Ibe explains that “lying has become a culture to the APC administration and therefore, we are not surprised by their latest diversionary allegations.”

    The statement adds that “since Atiku resisted pressure not to go to court, the APC has been behaving like a cat on hot bricks because the outcome of the 2019 elections has exposed and shattered the facade of their dubious integrity.”

    According to Ibe, “the APC are behaving nervously like a thief living under the fear of being exposed and shamed”, and that “they are now using fake news against Atiku instead of focusing on defending themselves in the court.”

    “For a party that has broken the worst record in election rigging, the APC doesn’t have any iota of integrity to be taken seriously by anybody”, the statement adds.

    According to Ibe, “Atiku’s court case has become their biggest burden because it exposes their integrity as a sham, and instead of defending their stolen mandate in court, they are now using fake news to divert public attention from the historic electoral heist they have committed against Nigerians.”

    The statement adds that no amount of diversionary propaganda and fake news campaign by APC will stop Atiku Abubakar from continuing the court action he started to reclaim the stolen mandate.

  • Buhari congratulates Cameroon’s Biya on inauguration for another term

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday congratulated President Paul Biya of Cameroon on his inauguration for another term in office.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President commended Biya for sustaining the good neighbourliness existing between the two countries.

    Buhari said he looked forward to enhanced relations between the governments of the two countries.

    The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari felicitates with President Paul Biya on his inauguration on Tuesday for another term of office following his victory in the October 7, 2018 presidential election.

    “The Nigerian leader commends his Cameroonian counterpart for sustaining the long history of good neighbourliness with Nigeria and cooperating in the current push against Boko Haram insurgents.

    “As the Cameroonian leader begins a new tenure, President Buhari wishes him success and looks forward to enhanced relations between the governments and peoples of both countries.”

     

  • Buhari, APC governors, ministers, others storm Ekiti on Tuesday for Fayemi’s inauguration

    …as inauguration committee rolls out one week long programme
    President Muhammadu Buhari will lead other eminent Nigerians to the inauguration of Ekiti State Governor-elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday.
    Fayemi will be sworn in alongside the Deputy Governor-elect, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion.
    Buhari, who had promised to attend Fayemi’s inauguration shortly after the latter won the All Progresse Congress (APC) primary, will be the Special Guest of Honour.
    The Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee of the Inauguration Ceremonies, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, disclosed this on Wednesday at a news conference to herald to mark week long activities to usher Fayemi into office.
    Oyebode revealed that others expected at the inauguration include governors, ministers, military and paramilitary top brass, traditional rulers, diplomats, clergymen, party leaders, civil society groups, artisans, market women and general public.
    Speaking on the significance of Buhari’s personal attendance of Fayemi’s inauguration, Oyebode described the President as a “lover of Ekiti and father of the nation.”
    He added that Fayemi served under Buhari as Minister and supervised the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, a sector that was dear to the heart of the President.
    The Chairman of the Security Committee, Brig. -Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (retd), said the military will be part of the security arrangements adding that security operatives will be drafted from neighbouring states.
    Events to make the milestone, according to Oyebode, commence on October 15 Inauguration Lecture to be delivered by eminent poet and literary icon, Prof. Niyi Osundare and Book Presentation, Photo Exhibition and presentation of prizes to Essay Competition winners.
    Besides the swearing-in ceremony on October 16, reception will take place at the same venue, Ekiti Parapo Pavilion.
    Fayemi, after being inaugurated, will hold a Town Hall meeting at Ekiti North senatorial district at Odo Udo Primary School, Ido Ekiti in the morning of October 17 while that of Ekiti South will hold at Ereja Park, Ikere Ekiti in the afternoon.
    On October 18, an interfaith thanksgiving service holds in Ado Ekiti in the morning to be followed by Ekiti Central town hall meeting at Aramoko Motor Park, Aramoko-Ekiti.
    A Thanksgiving Jumat Service holds at Ado-Ekiti Central Mosque on October 19 while on October 20, Ekiti Arts, Culture and Talent Fair at Ekiti Parapo Pavilion.
    Inauguration activities will be rounded off on October 21 with a Thanksgiving service at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Old Garage.
    On the same day, a reception will hold at Fayemi’s personal residence, Eyiyato Lodge, Isan-Ekiti.
    Oyebode added: “It would be a new dawn on October 16 as Dr. Fayemi will be back on track to take the government back to the people again for accountable government that will also make Ekiti people active participants in the way they are governed.
    “This knack for institutionalisation of participatory governance by Fayemi has reflected in the stakeholders forum commissioned by him where Ekiti people spoke I’m conference on their expectations from the government.
    “Now, the journey for the actualisation of Ekiti dreams starts on October 16, 2018; the date fate has chosen for Ekiti State to recover her destiny and turn around her fortune.
    “Suffice to say that this kind of historic and historical occasion held to celebrate the freedom of a people cannot go without pomp and drums with dignitaries in attendance to join the celebration.”
     

  • Roberto Carlos to visit Nigeria for Real Madrid Foundation inauguration

    Former Real Madrid and Brazil left full-back Roberto Carlos will visit Nigeria on March 28 to launch the Real Madrid Foundation Football Clinics for schools.

    Yomi Umar, Head of the Real Madrid Foundation Football School and Clinics, Nigeria, disclosed this during a visit to the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Umar who is also the Director, SPR Luxury said his team was in Abuja to inform the minister on the foundation’s activities and the visit of the Real Madrid legend.

    Umar said SPR Luxury, in partnership with the Real Madrid Football Foundation and Danjan Sports (UK), would establish a football clinic and school in Nigeria.

    She said Carlos and the Real Madrid Foundation team, which includes Head of Africa and Middle East, Inigo Arrenilas, would visit Nigeria to officially launch the foundation.

    “The Real Madrid Football Club, Brazilian legend and Foundation Brand Ambassador, Roberto Carlos, will be in Nigeria from March 28 to launch the Real Madrid Foundation Football Clinics for school boys and girls of ages seven to 17 years,” the official said.

    “The foundation will deliver advanced individual training in techniques and tactics, problem-solving and decision-making abilities on and off the pitch,’’ she added.

    In his response, Dalung congratulated the team for the initiative and promised to give the foundation adequate support.

    “This is a good initiative and in line with the ministry’s mission to develop sports and catch the athletes when they are young.

    “As a ministry, we will do our best to support you and the visit of Roberto Carlos,” he said.