Former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday returned to their respective states after handing over the rein of power to President Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

The two statesmen arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja(NNIA) almost at the same time in the company with their wives.

Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, arrived first at 11.25 am while Buhari arrived at about 11.30 am with his wife, Aisha.

The former vice-president, clad in white flowing gown and his trademark black cap went to join Buhari in the Presidential lounge for about two minutes.

Shortly after, Buhari stepped out of the lounge alongside Aisha and moved to the tarmac for the final departure ceremony that peaked with a military parade.

The former President shook hands with members of the Presidential Air fleet before he was thereafter accompanied to the foot of a waiting Nigeria Airforce aircraft by Osinbajo; his former Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Federal Capital Territory Minister (FCT) Minister Muhammad Bello; former Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige; former Humanitarian Minister Sadiya Farouq, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Hammed Ali, amongst others.

Buhari boarded the aircraft marked 5N-FGW with Aisha, former ministers Hadi Sirika (Aviation), Isa Pantami (Telecommunications and Digital Economy) and former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The plane took off at 12:01pm and landed at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport where the President was received by the newly inaugurated Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar-Radda, and his deputy, Alhaji Faruk Lawal.

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His family members were airlifted also to the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport in another NAF aircraft.

Buhari was later conveyed to Daura in a helicopter at about 2.20 pm and was received by a jubilant crowd led by the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk-Umar.

The Daura Emirate Council will today hold a grand durbar to formally welcome him back home.

The formality for the departure of Osinbajo commenced at about 12.17pm with friends, close relatives and aides singing praises to God on his behalf.

Osinbajo and Dolapo also boarded another NAF aircraft with registration number 5N-FGS around 12:31pm. The aircraft took off around 12.45pm for Lagos from where they headed to their Ikenne, Ogun State country home.

Before boarding the plane, Osinbajo expressed joy for the successful transition. He also expressed optimism that democracy would continue to thrive in the country.

He, however, urged Nigerians to be vigilant while speaking with reporters.

The former Vice President said, “We congratulate ourselves and we thank God that we are in the 7th democratic transition. I am thankful to God for the opportunity and for the fact that I was able to go through this period and we are leaving hale and hearty and all is well.”

• Governor enlists gender equality, social inclusion, youth in Dev’t agenda; takes oath with deputy 
• Expect more dividends of good governance, Lagosians assured

There is more progress to come as Lagos State steadily journeys into the unfolding dispensation, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reassured Lagosians as he took the oath to kick off his second term, on Monday. 

The morning downpour could not water down the Governor’s will and determination to renew his pledge to Lagos citizens before whom he stood at the amphitheatre of Tafawa Balewa Square, where the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, administered the oath on him.

Sanwo-Olu was sworn in at exactly 11:50am, after which the Governor stepped forward to give thorough account of stewardship of his first term. Enumerating transformations recorded by the State since 2019 under his leadership, the Governor noted that Lagos had lived up to its billing as the Center of Excellence. The State, he said, became the first sub-national to deliver an intracity rail network from its balance sheet to aid mass mobility in the mega city.

This, the Governor said, has further advanced the State’s development course, just as the completion of Lekki Deep Seaport has enhanced socio-economic growth and turned the Stateto a new logistics hub of West Africa. He said the delivery of largest rice mill in Imota by his administration was a game changer that would make Lagos a key player in food production chain on the continent.

Sanwo-Olu said Lagos had remained on the track of sustenance and prosperity, pointing out that his Government’s financial engineering led to the upgrade of the State to AAA(nga) status in financial sustainability and resilience by Fitch International - a feat unprecedented in the State’s annals.

The Governor, sharing his catalogue of achievements, also listed other notable progress made by Lagos, especially in expanding infrastructure to enhance intermodal transport system, healthcare services, education, aesthetic environment, social interventions and other areas across his administration’s development agenda.

“In my first term, we set the stage for transformative change. We confronted significant challenges, from improving our infrastructure to ensuring adequate social services, from grappling with economic downturns to navigating a global pandemic. Yet, we never faltered. Our challenges became stepping-stones and our trials, the foundation of our resilience,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Despite fulfilling some of his pledges, the Governor said there would be much more to be accomplished in the coming days as his final term begins. He said the swearing-in offered him an opportunity to acknowledge expectations of the electorate, and to rededicate his administration towards meeting and surpassing the people’s expectations.

Sanwo-Olu said his vision was beyond provision of physical infrastructure and working to attain good economic indicators for the State; he said he would govern to make Lagos a beacon of cultural vibrancy, intellectual prowess, and humanistic values. 

The Governor, in his inauguration address, expanded the scope of his administration’s governing T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. He announced three additional areas of focus which the State Government would intensify intervention in the next four years, including Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth.

He said: “That tradition of progressive governance, of enlightened leadership, has consistently yielded fruit for us, and set Lagos up as a model State. We have lived up to our designation as Centre of Excellence, and a day like this is an opportunity to celebrate. Our people still expect a lot more from us in several areas; today is another opportunity to acknowledge our citizens’ expectations and to rededicate ourselves to meeting and surpassing those expectations. I pledge, as your Governor, to unleash greater energy in the service of Lagos. I will work tirelessly for the well-being of every Lagosian and will strive for a Lagos that we can all be proud of. 

“It is in line with our resolve, I am pleased to announce that we are taking our governing agenda to the next level in this our second term. Henceforth, it will be known as ‘T.H.E.M.E.S Plus’, representing the incorporation of an intensified focus on Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth. We are strengthening and reinforcing our governance agenda in order not to leave anyone behind on account of their social status, gender or young age; we will design all our policies and programmes to ensure that everyone is carried along and catered to. This is our solemn promise to you.”

Sanwo-Olu said his second term would be more rewarding for the residents, as the State would witness consolidation of his reforms and governance at higher levels. In the coming weeks, the Governor will be delivering another intracity rail network, Red Line Rail, which is at the completion stage. Lagos will also be witnessing development of a new airport in Ibeju-Lekki, Deep Seaport in Badagry and Fourth Mainland Bridge in addition to other capital projects in the pipeline.

The task ahead, the Governor said, would be a collective responsibility of the Government and people, noting that he would always seek partnership with the citizens in line with his administration’s mantra. He assured that his administration would continue to foster a culture of transparency, accountability and participatory governance.

“The greatness and strength of Lagos lie in the collective spirit of our people; whether those paying taxes, or those treating public property with care and respect, or those speaking about something when they see something going wrong or someone breaking the law. For us as government, I would be the first to acknowledge our own side of this social contract. I will not let you down,” the Governor said.

Sanwo-Olu eulogised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for laying the foundation for the development of Lagos, which, he said, made it easy for the succeeding administrations to strengthen transformational governance and keep the State on the path of progress.

The Governor also thanked the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari for dedicating kindness and support for Lagos, which enabled his administration to record many successes in the last four years. 

Sanwo-Olu said he was ready to continue to offer transformational leadership to the State in collaboration with his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, whom he described as “loyal friend, partner-in-progress”. He promised Lagos would remain a city united by its diversity, while pledging to work till his last days in creating better future for the citizens.

He said: “At this moment of our history, it has fallen upon me to steer the ship and to move us closer than ever to the Greater Lagos of our dreams. Like I promised four years ago, the glitz of office will not change my personality and I will not try to become something I am not. I have strived to serve excellently, with humility, compassion, with a listening ear, bending where necessary to demonstrate that people’s welfare is at the centre of our actions.

“I am sending reminder to Lagosians that this land belongs to all of us, and all of us who call it home must partake in its goodness. Regardless of what language we speak, or where we trace our ancestry to, or where in Lagos we live, or what religion we profess; regardless of age or gender or political party, and regardless of how long we have called this land home; we are all united by something deep and immutable, which is our aspirations to make tomorrow better than today for us and our children.”

Thousands of residents across the State, clad in colourful attires, defied the rains to witness the historic event held at Onikan. The inauguration was well-attended by members of the corporate sector and diplomatic community.

Gboyega Akosile 

Media Adviser to the Governor 

29th May, 2023