President Muhammadu Buhari has shifted his formal inauguration for the second term of four years to June 12.
The move is aimed at formally declaring June 12 as Democracy Day instead of May 29.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, the minister of information and culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed said although the president would be inaugurated on May 29, the ceremonies commemorating it would hold on June 12.
He said world leaders who had been invited to attend the event would be received on June 12 during the ceremony.
“The move is aimed at deepening democracy, more so that this year’s June 12 as the new Democracy Day falls into the election,” he said.
Mohammed, who also said details of the event would be unfolded later, added that shifting the ceremony to June 12 had become imperative because the country could not afford to organise two ceremonies within two weeks.
“President Buhari’s inauguration for a second term on May 29, 2019, will be a low-key affair, as a number of the events slated for the inauguration will now be held during the first observance of June 12 as the National Democracy Day.
“The decision to have a low-key inauguration for the president was taken at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, 8 May 2019. However, invitations have been sent to all world leaders to attend the ceremonies marking the observance of the Democracy Day on June 12.
“Since the first observance of June 12 as Democracy Day falls into an election year, and as a measure to sustain June 12 as Democracy Day, the celebration of the inauguration and the advancement of democracy in the country will now take place on June 12.
“The country can ill-afford two major celebrations within a two-week interval.
“Details of the events slated for the two ceremonies will be unveiled at a world press conference slated for May 20th in Abuja,” he said.
