President Goodluck Jonathan is now to hand over the baton of leadership to General Muhammadu Buhari on 29th May instead of 28th May as earlier announced.
There had been criticisms over the earlier date as many Nigerians, including Femi Falana, a Lagos-based lawyer, had earlier argued that handing over on May would create a vacuum.
Minister of Information, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, who briefed State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Jonathan, said the minister had deliberations including the transition programme.
She however denied saying the President would hand over to the President-elect on May 28, but explained that she only said the preparation of hand-over notes by officials of the government would be completed by May 28 adding: “I have to make a little clarification because some people thought I said May 28 will be handover date. I never said that.
“I said May 28 will be the last day that we will have our handing over briefs by ministries and parastatals. I said from the 28th of this month to that date has been given to departments and ministries to submit their hand over notes.
“I remember somebody asked if there will be no vacuum if there is handover on May 28 and I replied that there will be no handing over on May 28. Handing over and inauguration will hold on May 29. The President is not handing over power on May 28, he is handing over power on May 29.
“We have started the transition and it is ongoing. We are submitting our handover notes to the Office of the SGF. The President is still the President until May 29 when Gen. Buhari takes his oath of office and resumes as the President of the Federal Republic.”
The Minister refused to explain the rationale behind the sacking of the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, she simply said the President has the power to appoint and fire anyone.
