Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, has vowed not to disappoint Nigerians when he’s sworn in as president on May 29, 2023.
Tinubu made the pledge shortly after he was conferred with the highest national honour of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), by President Muhammadu Buhari at the investiture ceremony held in Abuja on today, Thursday, May 24, 2023.
Buhari, who will hand over leadership next Monday, May 29, also conferred the honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on vice president-elect Kashim Shettima.
In his remark, Tinubu thanked Buhari for bestowing the honour on him and his deputy, Shettima, and also for his stewardship in leading the nation.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for bestowing the nation’s highest honours on my Vice President elect, Shettima, and me,” Tinubu said.
“Our deep thanks also go to the transition documents and the committed work performed by the transition council headed by the SGF.
“The documents summarize the immense work of your administration. They constitute an impressive and noteworthy scorecard. You have made history, and no one can take away your contribution to our nation’s development”.
“Your devotion to progressive and democratic good governance is unassailable”.
The president-elect also stated that his “hope” and “dedication” to govern Nigeria have been renewed.
“As such, I stand here renewed not only in hope but also in dedication to our national purpose and destiny. I also feel full of pride, but this pride is not for myself. It is for what this moment represents”.
“This stately occasion is living evidence that Nigeria is a vibrant and true democracy. All of us here bear witness to this inspiring proceeding where one leader bestows personal honour on his successor.
Also, that leader does his utmost to exchange the baton of government by ensuring that his successor is as well prepared as possible for the task at hand. “This hall is permeated with a sense of reverence for our democracy and the confident belief that this reverence shall be enshrined for generations to come,” he said.
“Today is more than a ceremony. It confirms that our path is right and that nothing will deter us from adhering to it.
“Our way will not always be smooth. Yet we are imbued with faith in our purpose and a firm belief in our collective ability to overcome the challenges that confront us,” he added.
Tinubu, who has nothing but respect and admiration for how President Buhari led Nigeria, praises the tenacity of the outgoing president.
He said, “President Buhari, you have shown courage in taking tough decisions others avoided. “One such decision was to recognize the injustice of the annulment of the 1993 election, to designate June as Democracy Day, and to bestow the nation’s highest honour on the late MKO Abiola.
“As much as anyone could, you reached back into history to set the record straight and heal a festering wound.
“The justice you did in this matter lends special meaning to today”.
Tinubu, who did not forget the masses for giving him the mandate to govern their affairs, thanked them for the “support” and “goodwill” they showed him during the presidential election.
He said, “I am a simple man who is the beneficiary of the support and goodwill of the people of Nigeria.
“The people have put their trust in us. You have done your part, Mr. President.
“Now, that great duty descends on me. I understand the meaning of the honour given to me today and of the task that awaits”.
He also promised to work assiduously for a better Nigeria.
“I must run this race and do it well. On security, the economy, agriculture, jobs, education, health, and power, and in all other sectors, we must make headway. The people deserve no less. In this, I shall disappoint neither them nor you, Mr. President”.
The investiture ceremony, which is one of the events that precedes the May 29 inauguration, had Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other dignitaries in attendance.
