Expectants of an elaborate inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term on May 29 will have to wait till June 12, Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed said yesterday.
The inauguration will be low-key, the minister said in Abuja.
Buhari, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the February presidential election, defeated his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger, Atiku Abubakar with more than three million votes.
The minister explained that since June 12 has been adopted as the National Democracy Day, all activities lined up for the inauguration have therefore been shifted to June.
Mohammed said: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration for a second term on May 29, 2019, will be a low-key affair, as a number of the events slated forthe inauguration will now be held during the first observance of June 12 as the National Democracy Day.”
The decision to have a low-profile inauguration for the President, he said, was taken at the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) on May 8.
According to him, world leaders would be invited to attend the events.
He said: “However, invitations have been sent to all world leaders to attend the ceremonies marking the observance of the Democracy Day on June 12.
“Since the first observance of June 12 as Democracy Day falls into an election year, and as a measure to sustain June 12 as Democracy Day, the celebration of the inauguration and the advancement of democracy in the country will now take place on June 12. The country can ill-afford two major celebrations within a two-week interval.”
Details of the events slated for the two ceremonies, the minister said, will be unveiled at a world press conference slated on May 20 in Abuja.
