By THE AFRICA BAZAAR Staff Writer
June 1, 2015
On Friday as Nigeria’s new President Muhammadu Buhari took oath of office in front of an agog crowd that includes world leaders at Eagle Square in the country’s capital Abuja, Boko Haram- the country’s scrounge insurgency who he vowed his administration will cripple once in office- made its existence known again by launching a three-day spree of deadly attacks in Northeast Nigeria that left more than 40 people dead and many injured.
The series of attacks began Friday with a bomb explosion at a wedding, followed by a suicide bombing at a market on Saturday and then rounded-off on Sunday with series combinations of a bomb, rockets attacks and shootings.
The latest attacks in the Northeast show the insurgency’s meticulous calculated strategy of disruptive and deadly attacks on innocent civilians to disrupt any peaceful and democratic process in the country and gain world’s fame at any cost.
For over a decade, Boko Haram has terrorized the Northeast of the country, killing and kidnapping women, children and men, including the Chiko girls that were kidnapped at their boarding school over a year ago, and has left domestic and foreign investors fretting over the political stability of the country.
President Buhari, recalling the nation’s founding fathers during his inaugural speech, tries to alleviate these fears, and reaffirmed his campaign pledges to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast Nigeria and crack down on corruption.
A few days before the inauguration, the former Presient Jonathan took Buharo on tour of the presidential palace, Aso Villa, in Abuja and a pre-inauguration dinner.
The historic significance of the ceremony- the nation’s first official peaceful democratic transition of power- represents a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic developmet. Though civilians rule was restored in 1999, the People Democratic Party (PDP) has held power for the last 16 years.
The newly created inauguration program designed by the National Council of State will be adopted as a template for subsequent inauguration to ensure uniformity in democratic administration/ leadership transition in the country.
The 72-year-old President Buhari, whose inauguration came 32 years later after his failed 20 months- military regime, won the nation’s March 28th presidential election against incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, and was sworn in shortly after his Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, recited oath of office.
Both were sworn in by Nigeria’s Chief Justice Mahmud Muhammed.
In attendance at the inauguration are his predecessors, including Shehu Shagari and Ibrahim Babangida and other current and former African Presidents.
U.S. Secretary of States John Kerry led the U.S. delegation that includes Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) General David M. Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council Grant T. Harris, and Olympic Gold Medalist and NBA Legend Hakeem Olajuwon.
Copyright © 2015 ImeK Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
