Full Text Of Nigerian President Speech At Handover Notes Presentation tomorrow

Administration to the in-coming Administration of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

This event and tomorrow’s inauguration of a new administration are truly historic as it is the first time in the history of our nation that we are witnessing the democratic and orderly transfer of power at the Federal level from one political party to another.

 The Hand-over notes which we now present, contain the governance philosophy, strategies, policies, programmes and activities of my Administration for the period – 2011-2015. Also to be found in the notes are the objectives, targets and implementation strategies, achievements and challenges of our key policies, schemes, initiatives as well as the status of commitments and liabilities of the various MDAs.As we hand over the affairs of the nation, it is appropriate to recall that at inception, in May 2011, we committed ourselves to consolidating national unity through democratization and good governance. Our assessment then, and our firm belief ever since, is that the unity of Nigeria, the security, well-being, greater freedoms and opportunities for all citizens must remain the primary objectives of government The Agenda for National Transformation which we did our best to implement consisted of clear and consistent governance strategies, policies, plans, programmes and projects, in all facets of our national life. 

Emphasis was placed on human and state security, democratization, sound economic management, as well as structural and institutional reforms.

 Our foremost concern was the unity of Nigeria.In keeping with that concern, we engineered a process that began with a review of issues outstanding from previous Constitutional Conferences by the Belgore Committee. After that, we widened political consultations through a National Dialogue that was orchestrated through the Okurounmu Committee. These culminated in the all-inclusive National Conference which unanimously reaffirmed that Nigeria must remain united and indivisible.

The Conference also made resolutions and recommendations for serious constitutional, political and governance reforms, which we have forwarded to the National Assembly for appropriate legislative action. It is our hope that the incoming Government will accord the Report of the National Conference the very high priority that it deserves, as a genuine expression of the will of our people.
Buhari while receiving handover notes said that President Jonathan has changed the course of Nigeria’s political history for good.

The ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa after Buhari and the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, were conducted round some offices and facilities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.The president-elect stated that Jonathan’s singular act of conceding defeat has not only deserved the respect of Nigerians but also of world leaders.

Buhari said: “Until I read and digest this notes from the President, I don’t think I will be in a position to make any strong contribution.“But what I will say is since the telephone call you made, you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history. For that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi party democracy and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.

“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand, a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.

“If you had wanted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of lives of poor Nigerians, but you chose the part of honour and may God help all of us. Thank you very much your Excellency.”

General Buhari, who will drop his title after inauguration, was accompanied by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Oyegun, members of the two parties’ transition committees, Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Spokesman of the party, Alhaji Lai Muhammed. It should be noted that Jonathan handed over the notes on May 28, Thursday, at the council chamber of the State House, Abuja.The outgoing president also presented a copy of the report of the National Conference which held in 2014, to the president-elect.