Buhari Confers GCFR Honours On Tinubu, GCON On Shettima …I Won’t Disappoint Nigerians -Tinubu

Outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred the highest National Honour of Grand Commander of Order of Federal Republic (GCFR) on the incoming President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Buhari also conferred the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima.
The Investiture Ceremony which took place at the State House, Banquet Hall, Abuja, yesterday was part of activities lined up for a one-week transition programme which will culminate in the handover to the new administration on May 29.
Buhari also handed three key transition documents to the President-elect alongside the baton of service.
This is in line with Executive Order 14 which mandates that the transition council issues handover notes containing, amongst other things, proposed policy direction for the incoming administration.
In his speech, Tinubu said he would not disappoint the trust conferred upon him by the Buhari and millions of Nigerians.
He also affirmed that he understands the magnitude of the honour conferred upon him and the corresponding task ahead.
“I understand the magnitude of the honour conferred on me today and the task ahead. Nigerians deserve no less.
“You (Buhari) have charted the course and I shall not disappoint you,” he said.
Thursday’s conferment makes Tinubu the 16th person to hold the GCFR Honour.
Those before him are NnamdiAzikiwe, ObafemiAwolowo, ShehuShagari, OlusegunObasanjo, AbdulsalamiAbubakar, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, SaniAbacha, MoshoodAbiola, UmaruYar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.
Others who have been conferred with the title include British Monarch Queen Elizabeth II, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and former Libyan Leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
Recall that Buhari had expressed his eagerness to hand over to the next administration on Monday, May 29.
The inauguration of the new president is a ceremony to mark the commencement of a new four-year term.
During this ceremony, the new president takes the presidential oath of office.
The Tide reports that the first inauguration of Shehu Shagari took place on October 1, 1979, Nigeria’s Independence Day.
Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999, all inaugurations have been held on May 29.
The most recent presidential inauguration was held on May 29, 2019, when President Muhammadu Buhari resumed his second term in office.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria administers the presidential oath of office on the President-elect and Vice President-elect.
Since 1999, the oath has been administered at six scheduled public inaugurations, by five chief justices.
Monday’s ceremony is to hold at the Eagle Square, Three Arms Zone in Abuja.