ABUJA, Nigeria — President Muhammadu Buhari awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR) to President-elect Bola Tinubu and the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) to Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima on Thursday, May 25, 2023, ahead of the forthcoming inauguration.
This historic event signaled the beginning of the transition of power.
Despite controversies trailing their election, the honours bestowed by Buhari align with Nigeria’s traditional process of handing over power to its new leaders after being declared victors by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The colorful investiture ceremony took place at the State House Conference Center in Abuja, where Buhari also officially handed over transition documents to Tinubu.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Buhari expressed confidence in his successors. “I am confident that Nigeria is in capable hands,” he said, stressing the weight of their new roles. Buhari reflected on his term, stating he had “run a good race” and urged Tinubu to remember that “leadership comes with responsibility.”
The federal government has already laid out a robust program of activities, tagged ‘NIGERIA: Better Together’, featuring 13 events spread across eight days, to usher in the Tinubu administration.
President-elect Tinubu and Vice President-elect Shettima will officially assume their roles during the inauguration ceremony scheduled for May 29 at Eagle Square in Abuja.
This transition sets a new chapter in Nigeria’s political history.
