In a significant development, President-elect Bola Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kasim Shettima are set to receive prestigious national honors in Nigeria. On Thursday, May 25, 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari will confer the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) award upon Tinubu, while Shettima will be conferred with the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON). This announcement was made by Tolu Ogunlesi, the President’s Special Assistant on Digital and New Media, via a tweet.
Furthermore, there will be an official handover of Transition Documents to the incoming administration. The transfer of power from the current government to the newly elected officials signifies Nigeria’s commitment to a seamless transition process. The details of the handover ceremony were not specified in the provided information.
In a related development, the Federal Government has unveiled the program lineup for the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as President and Kashim Shettima as Vice-President. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Transition Council, Boss Mustapha, revealed the schedule during a press briefing. The inauguration events, collectively named “NIGERIA: Better Together,” are set to take place over eight days.
One of the highlights of the program is the conferment of the GCFR title on the President-elect, Tinubu. This honorary title is traditionally exclusive to presidents. The transition program, comprising 13 events, aims to celebrate the democratic transfer of power in Nigeria. Secretary Boss Mustapha emphasized the commitment of President Buhari to ensuring a smooth transition and urged all relevant government institutions to support and cooperate with the president-elect’s team.
The press briefing also marked the announcement that May 29, 2023, will be the day Nigeria witnesses its seventh consecutive democratic transition of power. This momentous occasion will mark the inauguration of the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The upcoming conferment of national honors upon President-elect Bola Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kasim Shettima underscores the recognition of their contributions and achievements. The Nigerian populace and the global community are eagerly anticipating this historic moment as Nigeria continues its democratic tradition.