*President Buhari during his first term inauguration four years ago*
The Federal Government on Monday, May 20 released the programs of events for the May 29 inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the second term and the first observance of June 12 as the nation’s Democracy Day.
Rolling out the programs of events at a World Press Conference in Abuja was Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture who is also the Chairman of the media sub-committee of the Presidential Inauguration Committee.
With him at the press conference were the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu; Minister of Solid Minerals, Alhaji Bawa Bwari; Minister of Defence, General Mansur Dan Ali; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema and some other top government officials.
Emphasizing that though the two days would be public holidays, Alhaji Mohammed said foreign dignitaries would be invited to the June 12 Democracy Day and not May 29 Inauguration.
President last year declared June 12 as Democracy Day and a national holiday in commemoration of the June 12, 1983 Presidential election won by the late business mogul, Bashorun Kashimawo Olowale (MKO) Abiola. The election which is still adjudged as the fairest and freest in the annals of Nigeria’s political his was however annulled by the then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.
* MKO Abiola*
Giving the outing of the program for May 29 Inauguration, the Minister said: “Activities leading to the inauguration of Mr. President officially kicks off today, May 20th, with this press conference. This will be followed of Tuesday, May 21st, by the commencement of a three-day National Youth Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit at the International Conference Centre (ICC) here in Abuja.
“The Federal Executive Council Valedictory Session will be held at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, May 22nd; a Special Jumat Lecture and prayer will be held on Friday May 24th at
the National Mosque; the First Lady’s interaction with women is slated for the Old Chamber at the State House on Saturday May 25th while a special Interdenominational Church Service is slated for Sunday May 26th at the National Christian Centre.
“On Monday, May 27th, Mr. President will give a Children;s Day broadcast, to be followed later in the day by a Children’s Variety Party. The swearing in of the President and the Vice President is slated for Wednesday, May 29th at the Eagle Square, to be followed by a State Banquet at the State House in the evening of the same day.”
For the Democracy Day, Alhaji Mohammed disclosed that: “ The events celebrating June 12 as Democracy Day will kick off on Friday, June 7th with a Historical Exhibition in Arts, Pictures and Immersive Environment and run through June 12th. The event is slated to hold at the ICC. It will be followed on Sunday, June 9th by a Youth Concert, Creative Industry and Entertainment Night also at the ICC.
“On Monday, June 10th, there will be a Secondary Schools Exhibition/Panel Discussion at the ICC, and Tuesday, June 11th will feature three events: the PMB Oratorical Contest at the ICC, an Anti-corruption Summit at the Transcorp Hilton and and a First Lady’s Commissioning Programme in Yola, Adamawa.
“Wednesday, June 12th will start off with a parade at the Eagle Square, and the Democracy Day programme will wrap up with a Dinner and Gala Night at the State House Conference Centre.”
The Minster recalled that he had said at a press conference at the State House on Monday, May 13th 2019, that “the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term on May 29th 2019, will be a low-key affair. I also said a number of the events slated for the inauguration will now be held during the first observance of June 12 as Democracy Day.” He added that “ The essence of this press conference, therefore, is to give you the details of the events that have been slated for both the inauguration and the Democracy Day.”
The reminded the newsmen that “Mr. President last year declared June 12 as Democracy Day and a national holiday. He also said the official commencement of the new Democracy Day will be in 2019.” He explained that “It is in fulfillment of this declaration, therefore, that the Federal Executive Council decided, at its meeting on Wednesday May 8th 2019, to have a low-key presidential inauguration on May 29th, and then defer the celebration that comes with it to the June 12 Democracy Day.”
Speaking further, he said “ This is why I said, at my earlier press conference, that since the first observance of June 12 as Democracy Day falls in 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. I also said, of course, that the country can ill-afford two major celebrations within a two-week interval.”
He added that “ On the invitation of world leaders to the presidential inauguration, I said the leaders would be invited instead to the ceremonies marking the observance of the Democracy Day on June 12, and
that invitations have since been sent out to them.”
2019 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION PLANNING COMMITTEE (PIPC) CALENDAROF ACTIVITIES
20TH – 29TH MAY, 2019
| S/N | DATE | TIME | ACTIVITY | VENUE | ATTENDANCE |
| 1. | Monday 20th May | 11.00am | · World Press Conference | · Nat. Press Centre | Media |
| 2. | Tuesday 21st May | 10.00am | · National Youth Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit(21st -23rd) | · ICC | Open and by Invitation |
| 3. | Wednesday 22nd May | 10.00am | · FEC Valedictory Session
|
· Council Chambers State House | Strictly by Invitation |
| 4. | Friday 24th May | 09.00am | · Special Jumma’atLecture and Prayer | · National Mosque | Open and by Invitation |
| 5. | Saturday 25th | 16.00pm | · First Lady’s Interaction with Women | · Old Chamber State House | Open and by Invitation |
| 6. | Sunday 26th May | 15.00pm | · Special Interdenominational Church Service | · National Christian Centre | Open and BY invitation |
| 7. | Monday 27th May | 07.00am
13.00pm |
· Children’s Day Broadcast by Mr. President
· Children’s Variety Party |
· State House
· State house |
Open and BY invitation |
| 9. | Wednesday 29th May | 08.00am
19.00pm |
· Swearing In Ceremony
· State Banquet
|
· Eagle Square
· State House Conf. Centre |
Strictly by Invitation |
*ICC – International Conference Centre
2019 DEMOCRACY DAY CELEBRATION CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES
7TH– 12TH JUNE, 2019
| 1. | 7th – 12th June | 09.00am | · Historical Exhibition in Arts, Pictures and Immersive Environment (Week Long) | · ICC | Open and BY invitation |
| 2. | Sunday 9th June | 16.00pm | · Youth Concert, Creative Industry & Entertainment Night | · ICC | Open and BY invitation |
| 3. | Monday 10th June | 09.00am | · Secondary Schools Exhibition/Panel Discussion | · ICC | Open and BY invitation |
| 4.
|
Tuesday 11th June | 09.00am
10.00am 11.00am |
· PMB – Oratorical Contest
· Anticorruption Summit · First Lady’s Commissioning Program Adamawa |
· ICC
· Transcorp Hilton · Yola, Adamawa |
Open and BY invitation
Strictly by Invitation |
| 5. | Wednesday 12th June | 09.00am
18.00pm |
· Democracy Day Parade
· Dinner & Gala Night |
· Eagle Square
· State House Conf. Centre |
Strictly by Invitation |
*ICC – International Conference Centre