*Security beefed up nationwide, flashpoints, key places restricted
* Eagle Square venue of Presidential inauguration gets facelift
By Eze Chidozie, Gift Chapi-Odekina and Daniel Tyokua
Nigerians have assessed eight years of the out-going President Muhammadu Buhari, and passed the verdict that the in-coming President, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, must shun nepotism and show evidence of blocking corruption by top political and burraucratic personnel, if the country must move forward.
In passing verdict of “abysmal failure” on the Buhari administration, Nigerians admonished Tinubu to prove critics wrong by taking right steps and avoid living pretentious lifestyle, like his predecessor did.
Otunba Gbenga Odudukoko, a Lagos-based consultant noted that carrying on with the deception of the Muhammadu Buhari administration would dip Nigeria into the abyss, as not just the global capital but as a completely failed state.
He also advised Tinubu to live above board and to be seen by the ordinary people as not just doing the correct things at all times, but to have the courage to discipline his appointees when to run foul of the law.
Also, Alhaji Mohammed Dangaladima, noted that “Tinubu must avoid the pretentious styles of the Buhari administration and shun corruption in all ramifications”.
According to him, “God has already endowed Tinube with great wealth. It will not be nice for him to disappoint the ordinary people who voted for him.
“He has been accused of engaging in all sorts of sordid acts but he now has a golden opportunity to prove his critics wrong and history beckons on him”.
Chief Emma Ozokafor, who also spoke noted the spiralling insecurity in the country, advising the in-coming President to tackle insecurity head-on and prove that the nation’s security are not the puppets they have been seen to become.
“Tinubu has a lot to tackle. Insecurity and agitations all over the country due to evident nepotism and neglect of certain parts of the country are issues he must bring to an end.
“He must ensure that every segment of the country is given a sense of belonging by appointing people from there to head not just the different security aparatus, but also key ministries, parastatals and corporations.
“He must avoid only pr9viding jobs for his kinsmen or providing infrastructure for other countries to the neglect of his own countrymen and women. He must avoid creating phantom ministries snd agencies seen to be conduit pipes for siphoning public fund,” he stressed.
Already, the 5, 000 capacity Eagle Square has undergone serious renovation and set for the inauguration.
The VIP pavilion, the outer podium for the swearing-in and the open space for display by the Security and Armed Forces, had been decorayed with Nigerian flags and flags of some other countries, and generally repainted.
The News Agency of Nigeria had reported that the Eagle Square was constructed in 1999 to mark the take-off of the Fourth Republic and had been the venue for presidential inaugurations since then.
The square also served as a venue for other activities like Worker’s Day celebrations and political rallies, among others.
Meanwhile, security had been beefed up within and around the square in preparation for Tinubu’s inauguration.
Part of the security measures was the restriction of movement within and around the Eagle Square.
The National Security Adviser(NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) had ordered restriction of movement at a certain range around the Eagle Square.
Monguno, who is head of the Security, Facilities and Intelligence Committee of the Presidential Transition Council(PTC), announced traffic diversion from the venue of the inauguration.
The NSA advised, “If you have no business with security you need not be near the vicinity of the programme especially on the inauguration day.”
Based on that, access to the venue will only be for accredited persons and designated vehicles.
Meanwhile, the inauguration day, Monday, May 29, has been declared public holiday. (NAN)
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared Asiwaju Tinubu, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the presidential election.
Tinubu defeated 17 other candidates and scored 8,794,726 votes.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who announced the results in Abuja, said Atiku Abubakar of the Peopes Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 6,984,520 votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party came third with 6,101,533 votes and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP scoring 1,496,687 votes.
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