The Federal Government has directed the restriction of movements around the Eagle Square, the venue of the inauguration parade, from 2 p.m. on Friday till Tuesday. This move is in preparation for the swearing-in of President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, on May 29.
A circular issued by Ngozi Onwudiwe, a permanent secretary at the Head of the Civil Service, stated that the Federal Secretariat Complexes Phases I, II, III, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be cordoned off by security operatives ahead of the ceremony.
The government has been conducting military drills in the past few weeks in preparation for the inauguration ceremony. The Inauguration Parade and Swearing-in of President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is the climax of the Programme, will take place on Monday, 29th May 2023 at the Eagle Square, Central Business District, Abuja.
The circular also stated that “officers and intending visitors to the affected areas will not be allowed access till Tuesday, 30th May 2023, when work will resume in earnest.”
See Also: Opposition Calls for New Polls as Tinubu is Declared Nigeria’s President-Elect
The move to restrict movements around the Eagle Square is a precautionary measure taken by the government to ensure the safety and security of all those present at the inauguration parade. The Presidency has also assured Nigerians that all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure a successful inauguration ceremony.
However, there are concerns that this restriction may lead to possible protests, as the victory of Mr Tinubu is being challenged at the presidential election petition court by three presidential candidates, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Aside from the ongoing tribunal, there have been pockets of protests by some opposition members who believe that Mr Tinubu did not meet the constitutional requirement. Mr Tinubu scored 8,794,726 votes at the 25 February election and secured the 25 per cent threshold of total votes in 29 states but failed to meet the threshold in the FCT as required by the Nigerian constitution.
The government has assured Nigerians that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of all citizens during and after the inauguration ceremony. The Nigerian Police Force has also issued a statement calling on all citizens to be law-abiding and to report any suspicious activity to the nearest security agency.
Meanwhile, President-elect Tinubu has called on all Nigerians to come together and work towards achieving a better Nigeria. His inauguration speech is expected to focus on his plans to improve the economy, tackle corruption and improve security in the country.
In conclusion, the restriction of movements around the Eagle Square is a necessary precaution taken by the government to ensure the safety and security of all those present at the inauguration parade. While there may be concerns about possible protests, the government has assured Nigerians that all necessary security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of all citizens during and after the inauguration ceremony. All Nigerians are encouraged to be law-abiding and to work together towards achieving a better Nigeria.
Source: Premium Times