The presidency has described as “scandalous” and “false” a media report that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised not to hand over to Tinubou Ball.
In a statement by presidential aide Garba Shehu on Friday, he wondered why after campaigning for Tinubu, the president would turn around to say he would not hand over power to him.
On March 1, INEC declared Mr. Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, the winner of the February 25 elections.
He beat 17 others, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labor Party (LP), to emerge victorious.
Both Messrs. Atiku and Obi are currently challenging the victory of the APC candidate in court.
Mr. Buhari, who will step down on May 29 at the end of his second term, is a member of the APC like Mr. Tinubu.
An online outlet, Sahara Reporters, reported that Mr. Buhari had said that he would not hand over Mr. Tinubu.
The presidency, in the statement, said that a committee constituted by the president and charged with the responsibility of facilitating and managing the process of handing over the position by the current administration is currently operating.
He further said that the Daura community, where Mr. Buhari hails from, has begun preparations to welcome his son back after eight years in power.
“He, for his part, is looking forward to coming home to enjoy his retirement,” the statement said.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the committee headed by Federation Government Secretary Boss Mustapha was appointed and launched in February.
Read the full statement from the Presidency
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE STATE HOUSE
THE PRESIDENT NEVER SAID HE WOULD NOT GIVE UP THE CHOSEN TINUBU
The Presidency wishes to denounce as scandalous and false and condemns the fake news brigade for attributing a false quote to President Muhammadu Buhari and circulating it.
How can you vigorously campaign for someone, vote for him, and then say you won’t hand him over? This begs belief.
Sahara Reporters situation is pretty pathetic as their ownership is politically partisan in current politics, in fact a loser in the presidential election. Instead of talking about the problems, they repeatedly sell lies in the hope that people will believe them as the truth.
The government is already in a transition phase. The Transition Committee, made up of representatives of the outgoing and incoming administration, meets almost daily to plan the handover to the Tinubu/Shettima administration. Thirteen committees as offshoots of the main committee, some to organize military exercises and remove President Buhari, are all up and running soon. So far, everything is going great and there are no indications of any problems.
As for the President, the Daura community has begun preparations to welcome back his son after successfully managing the country for two eight-year terms. He, for his part, is looking forward to coming home to enjoy his retirement.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media and advertising)
March 24, 2023
