Fashola urges low-key handover ceremony

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), says the May 29 handover should be more focused on informing Nigerians about the direction the new government will take, instead of the usual fanfare.

The governor said this was how inaugurations were marked across the world.

Fashola said this while fielding questions from journalists at the third session of the 32nd Synod of the Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) on Monday.

The governor, whose tenure ends in three weeks, added that incoming political office holders will be made to declare their assets before taking oath of office.

He said, “I think we should do what normal countries do as regards inauguration. There should not be too much fanfare about this. We should understand that the tenure of the current administration will end on the midnight of May 28.

“A new President and new government are in office subject to the constitutional requirement of Section 140 of the Constitution to declare their assets and take their oath of office. So, essentially, what people see during the day is ceremonial.

“The law has taken its course at midnight. So, that is the most important thing. So, I hope at various state levels and national level, we will hear indicative directions about which way we are going (on inauguration day).

Also speaking, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Ephraim Ademowo, commended Fashola for providing Lagos with ‘quality leadership’ in the last eight years.

He urged the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to concentrate on the economy, tackling of corruption and unemployment, reviving the educational system and infrastructure, as well as curbing terrorism