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Nigeria's outgoing president Jonathan to pass on baton on May 28

Xinhua, April 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nigeria's outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan has concluded plans to hand over power to incoming president Muhammadu Buhari on the eve of May 29, the country's actual inauguration date, Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki said Wednesday.

Jonathan will pass on the baton to his successor at a dinner on May 28, the day his government would officially round off work to usher in the new government, said .

"Also, you know May 29 is our Democracy Day. So, we have activities lined up all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all other things we do normally on our Democracy Day except that this year is special with the inauguration of our new president that is coming up on May 29," the official told reporters in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

This new development implies that the outgoing Nigerian president may not be present at the inauguration ceremony of Buhari, who will publicly take the oath of office as the new president, at the Eagles Square located in the central area of Abuja.

Nigeria's vice-president Namadi Sambo is heading the transition committee set up by the government, while Anyim Pius Anyim, secretary to the country's government, is heading the May 29 inauguration committee, to ensure a smooth transition, the minister said.

Buhari, of Nigeria's opposition All Progressives Congress, beat outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan by about 2.5 million votes, in the country's toughest presidential poll on March 28. Endi