President Muhammadu Buhari has told President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that he’s waiting to welcome him to the State House as President on May 29.

The President also declared that the handover of power from him to Tinubu on that date is sacrosanct.

Buhari and Tinubu spoke on the phone to exchange pleasantries on the occasion of Eid el Fitri.

The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said his principal assured Tinubu that he was ready to welcome him as his successor in the Presidential Villa on May 29.

“President Muhammadu Buhari and the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Friday morning exchanged Eid greetings in a phone call to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan,” Shehu said in a statement.

“Both leaders thanked God Almighty for seeing this day and prayed for the stability and the wellbeing of the nation.

“President Buhari expressed his readiness to welcome Asiwaju Tinubu to the State House as President on May 29th.”

And fielding questions from journalists at the Eid grounds in Abuja after the Sallah prayers, Buhari said Nigerians have fully embraced and demonstrated their love for democracy, hence the handover of power to Tinubu is not negotiable.

“Nigerians appreciate the stability of democracy,” he said.

“The outcome of the elections, in which more than 10 governors failed to make it to the Senate, sent a clear message that ordinary Nigerians know the power of their votes and how to use it.

“Nigerians cherish democracy. They have shown their love for it and will defend it against real or perceived threats.

“They will continue to vote one way or the other depending on their preferences.”

Reiterating the sanctity of the handover date, the President said, “God willing, nothing will stop it.”