By Marcus Ikechukwu
President Muhammadu Buhari and his successor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday, went around the Presidential Villa ahead of the May 29 inauguration.
The tour around the seat of power is to familiarise the incoming President, with the workings of the State House, from where he would preside over the affairs of Nigeria.
Both leaders were seen taking a walk around the villa vicinity after the Jumat Prayers at the Mosque within the premises.
Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima was earlier on Thursday conducted around the VP wing of the Villa by outgoing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on a familiarisation tour.
The duo stopped briefly at the Press Gallery where reporters covering the State House usually converged.
At the Press Gallery, which is an adjoining space to the Council Chambers of the State House, the two leaders who stood for a couple of minutes, listening to their guide, Kazaure, did not speak to newsmen, who had expected to have a couple of questions answered.
The President and his successor, followed by a large retinue of Presidency officials and security personnel, were guided on the tour by the State Chief of Protocols (SCoP), Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.
Other top officials of the State House including the Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Permanent Secretary, Umar Tijjani were among those that accompanied the President to take the incoming President around the President’s wing of the State House.
The development comes barely 24 hours after the President conferred upon Tinubu the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, at the State House Banquet Hall.
Both leaders exchanged documents ahead of the official handover of power on Monday, May 29, 2023.
