By Emmanuel Obisue
Ahead of the May 29 inauguration of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s 16th President, the U.S. President, Joe Biden has released a 9-man delegation to attend the high profile event in Abuja.
In a statement released on the White House website on Monday night, Biden aannounced Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia L. Fudge as leader of the delegation.
Members of the presidential delegation include, Mr. David Greene, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Abuja, Honorable Sydney Kamlager-Dove, United States Representative (D), California, Honorable Marisa Lago, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce and General Michael E. Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command.
Others are, Honorable Enoh T. Ebong, Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Honorable Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Honorable Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council and Honorable Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development.
At least 65 world leaders, including Heads of State, have been invited to grace the event.
Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor who won the Feb. 25 presidential election currently being challenged in the court by his opponents will be sworn in as the 16th President of Nigeria on May 29 at Eagle Square, Abuja.
Mr. Atiku Abubakar who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi who was the candidate of Labour Party have both faulted the declaration of Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Also expected at the nation’s seventh transition ceremony are past presidents, diplomats, heads of international organisations and prominent Nigerians and representatives of foreign governments and agencies.
The inauguration programmes will begin on Thursday with the investiture of Tinubu with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic and the Vice-President-elect, Kashim Shettima, as the Grand Commander of Order of the Niger, the highest and second highest honour in the West African nation.
Representatives of Nigeria’s traditional allies such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, China, Germany, Finland, Jamaica, Japan, Israel, Turkey and several others are expected to attend.
