President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari
President-elect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) may write President Goodluck Jonathan to seek clarification on the May 28 handover date.
Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered on Saturday that to avoid dispute between the incoming and outgoing administrations, Buhari would ask for explanation on a statement by the Minister of Information, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, on Wednesday.
The minister had, after the Federal Executive Council meeting, told journalists that Jonathan would hand over to Buhari at a dinner in Abuja on May 28.
She had said, “By May 28, the President intends to have the formal handover done at a dinner so that we can reserve May 29 for the incoming government.
The information minister also disclosed that the President had directed all ministries, departments and agencies to prepare their handover notes and submit them to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, on or before Monday.
According to her, it is Anyim’s responsibility to compile the notes, which will form Jonathan’s handover document to Buhari on May 28.
She had said, “You know May 29 is our Democracy Day. So, we have activities lined up all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all other things we do normally on our Democracy Day except that this year is special with the inauguration of our new President that is coming up on May 29.”
Saturday PUNCH had reported that a member of the Buhari campaign team, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, faulted the May 28 date.
Fashakin said, “It (the proposed handover on the 28th) portends ill for the political destiny of this nation.”
A top member of the APC, who confided in Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, said that to avoid disagreement, the president-elect and the party would seek clarification on the handover date.
He stated, “We will seek clarification from government on the statement by the minister of information. The President- elect may write the President for clarification or we may simply contact them (government) for explanation on the handover ceremony”
When contacted the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said, “We are still consulting. After consultation, we will make our stand known.”
NIYI ODEBODE
