President Jonathan To Hand Over To Buhari On May 28th

President Goodluck Jonathan will formally hand over to the president-elect, Maj. Gen. Muammadu Buhari (rtd.) on May 28.

Accordingly, Jonathan has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to submit their handover briefs to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on or before April 20.

The announcement was made after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa.

The FEC meeting was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Briefing State House correspondents shortly after the FEC meeting, Information Minister, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki said "you know we are already in transition so there is very little to report. What we discussed with the President in council, he emphasized on the need for all MDAs to submit their handing over notes to the office of the secretary to the government of the federation by 20th of this month, that is next Monday.

"So we are going to be very busy this weekend putting our handing over notes together.

"The president also emphasized that he would require another little briefing from all MDAs to indicate inherited projects, how far it has been executed and initiated projects by his administration and the level of completion, whether completed, ongoing or abandoned. So that was it at the council meeting.

"We discussed other issues but we are particularly paying attention to the transition and how to make it effective. As you are all aware we have transitional committee already set up by president, headed by the Vice President. Other than that we have an inaugural committee that is headed by the SGF.

"So everything we are doing we are doing to achieve smooth transition, getting all our notes together."

According to the minister, by May 28 the president intended having the formal handing over done at a dinner, while May 29 would be reserved for the incoming government.

She added that "by May 28 we expects to have concluded one way governance and we are welcoming incoming government.

"Also you know May 29th is our democracy day so we have activities lined up all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all other things we do normally on our democracy day except that this year is special with the inauguration of our new president that is coming up on the May 29th."

Asked if council meeting will continue or be on hold, Akwashiki said "it is for the MDAs to submit their notes to the SGF a who will handle the total package of the handing over to the incoming administration. It doesn't mean that the is the exact notes that will be passed on.

"There is a format to follow and so it becomes easier for all the MDAs to follow the template. If they do that it will be easier for the president to compile everything.

"The format is to ensure you submit everything before they pass it to the incoming government. That is not to say that governance has stopped, of course we are in government until the day the president-elect takes oath of office.

"There is no space vacuum there are things happening. And if you have any pending contract approval it has to be submitted before the 13th of May. Everything that requires the president's approval should be submitted before April 13.

"We also do not want the incoming administration to accuse us of rushing projects which is normal so we are guided by that. And if you have approvals we are going to have federal executive council every week, the last one that will be the valedictory one will be on May 20.

"So governance is not stopping, we are still working and in the event you have approvals it must be concluded before 13." - culled

*sad sigh*

I am in love with President Jonathan.something about his recent actions tug at the deepest part of my heart.

I hope the people of Otuoke give him a hero's welcome back home.

I will never stop celebrating the man that the President has become.