By Ishaya Ibrahim
A fresh chapter was opened for President Muhammadu Buhari, 29 governors, 109 senators, 360 House of Representatives members and hundreds of lawmakers at the 36 states Houses of Assembly in the country on May 29.
How the elected politicians would be rated at the expiration of their tenure will be determined by the decisions they make beginning from that day.
Here’s a brief of what transpired at the Eagle Square in Abuja where Buhari was sworn-in, and at the states which recorded upsets in the governorship elections.
Buhari takes oath, makes no speech
For the first time in the history of the inauguration, the President did not give a speech after taking his oath of office. Inauguration speech usually provides a glimpse of what would be the priority of the government.
Yakubu Gowon was the only former head of state that attended the event. Goodluck Jonathan, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar were absent. Former Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Danjuma, was also absent. The seats reserved for them at the State Box were vacant during the ceremony.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, did not take the advice of Jesus Christ about avoiding an exalted seat at the banquet. He took a position between the service chiefs during the guard of honour while waiting for President Buhari. A military officer whispered to his ear, and he was seen leaving the position.
Ambode absent at Sanwo-Olu inauguration
The immediate past governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, was absent at the inauguration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Ambode was deprived a second term ticket by the kingmaker of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu. The anger may still be fresh.
The new Governor has promised to move the state forward in his inauguration speech.
He said the policy thrust of his government is captured in the acronym: THEMES.
THEMES, according to him, means Traffic management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st-century economy, Entertainment and Tourism and Security and Governance.
Makinde, labour, may tango over minimum wage
Seyi Makinde, the new Governor of Oyo State, has started by courting trouble with the labour. He told civil servants in the state not to expect immediate payment of the new minimum wage.
The new minimum wage is a law, and the organised labour has been pressing for its immediate implementation.
But the Governor said: “Recently, the Federal Government announced a new salary scheme in which the lowest cadre of civil servants is expected to earn at least N30,000.
“I know how access to this type of money will improve the lives of many of the families that I have had direct contact with.
“With the way the Oyo state account currently stands, I will be deceiving you if I said we are capable of taking on this burden.”
A crisis may be in the offing if the new Governor doesn’t find a better way of convincing the labour why the new minimum wage has to wait.
Okorocha absent, deputy graces Ihedioha’s inauguration
Emeka Ihedioha took his oath of office as the sixth governor of Imo state. The immediate past governor, Rochas Okoocha, was missing among the dignitaries at the event. But his estranged deputy, Eze Madumere, was present.
The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Pascal Nnadi administered the oath of office on Governor Ihedioha.
Bala Mohammed takes the oath, inherits N136 billion debt
Bala Mohammed begins the work as new Governor of Bauchi State with a debt of N136 billion pilled up for him by the previous administrations.
Mohammed defeated an incumbent in the last election. The government he is replacing contributed N40 billion to the state’s debt burden.
Fintiri declares war against Shilla cult on inauguration day
Ahmadu Finitiri won the Adamawa governorship by defeating an incumbent with a wide margin. He is, therefore, riding on a popular mandate.
At the swearing-in ceremony which was attended by former Governors Boni Haruna and Bala James Ngilari, he read the riot act to a known cult group in the state – Shilla.
“Let me sound a note of warning to the Local Cult group currently terrorizing our neighbourhood not to test our resolve but to shape up or ship out. The so-called Shilla cult group have two weeks to reform as this Government comes to power after which the full complement of the Law will be unleashed against them and other criminals terrorizing our State,” he said.
Amosun delegated SSG to hand over to Abiodun
The immediate past governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, delegated the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, to perform the handover to the new Governor, Dapo Abiodun. Abiodun himself delegated his deputy, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele to represent him.
The brief ceremony, which was held at the Conference Room, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was attended by top government functionaries and members of the joint transition committee.
The documents submitted by the Amosun-led government to the incoming administration included handover note, financial statement and records, audited accounts and homeowners charter report.
Amosun and Abiodun are bitter political rivals.
Zamfara miracle governor announces free healthcare for women, children
The new Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle has announced that his administration will offer free healthcare services to women and children in the state.
Matawalle became Governor because the primary that produced the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was declared to be faulty by the Supreme Court. As the second in the election, even though he was trounced badly, the court declared him governor.
Abdulrasaq pledges to run an open government
The new governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq has said that his government will be fully committed to participatory governance by transforming the relationship between government and the people.
Abdulrasaq defeated the political machine of Senate President Bukola Saraki to emerge governor.
The governor attributed his victory at the poll to the collective efforts of the people, saying the new government would, therefore, make the masses the focus of its policies.
