PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday in Abuja took the oath of office for their second term as Nigeria’s president and vice president respectively in a ceremony at the Eagle Square in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Acting Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Tanko, administered the oath of office to the President at 10:42 am, shortly after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo took his oath of office.
Based on the Constitution, the President swore that as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria he would discharge his duties to the best of his ability, faithfully and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He also swore that he would preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that he would not allow his personal interest to influence his official conduct or official decisions.
Wednesday’s ceremony was witnessed by members of the first families including the wives of the President Buhari and Osinbajo, Aisha and Dolapo respectively, were among prominent Nigerians, diplomats, presidents, top government officials and politicians at the ceremony.
However, the ceremony was a low-key event as the crowd that witnessed it at the Eagle Square was less compared to what happened in 2015 when Nigerians from all walks of life graced the occasion.
Before Wednesday, the Federal Government had announced the closure of all roads leading to Eagle Square as part of preparation and security measures ahead of the inauguration.
Members of the public and party loyalists who were without letter of invitation to the event were not allowed into the Eagle Square pavilion by security operatives.