By Okey Ndiribe

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan told the moving story of one of his fans on Facebook- the popular social network – while delivering his speech after he was sworn for a fresh term of four years on Sunday. He said the fan whose name he gave as Bamidele Oregba lost his father three days after the result of the last month’s Presidential election was declared.

According to him: “Oregba informed  me  through Facebook that his 102 year old  father who was also my fan had collapsed because he was overwhelmed with joy after I was declared winner of the last presidential election.  He said his father died three days later  as a result of complications that arose from his fall.”

To many who listened to the President’s tale, it signified his respect for Nigerian voters .

Indeed, the President had  recalled the grueling times Nigerians went through during the voters registration exercise when many Nigerians spent days queuing before they could get registered. He also recalled how Nigerians spent hours during the recently concluded  general elections  to cast their votes.

President Jonathan for the umpteenth time showered praises on members of the National Youth Service Corps who worked as ad-hoc staff for the Independent National Elections (INEC) during the polls, adding that  the 10 of them who lost their lives during the violence that broke out after the result of the presidential polls became known  were national heroes.

He assured  Nigerians that given the background that led to yesterday’s event, he would not let the nation down as he begins his new tenure.

Said he: “The day of transformation begins today. Nobody would be allowed to divide us again”.

He further stated that power sector reforms was at the heart of his transformation agenda adding that under the  new dispensation resolution of the Niger Delta crisis was critical for the progress of the nation. He reassured the nation that he was committed to providing more jobs for Nigerians in the next four years.

He stated that the war against corruption would be sustained and urged all Nigerians  to  join the war against social cankerworm.

“This is a new dawn. We fought for decolonization; we must now fight for democratization” he said.

Commenting on  what would be the foreign policy thrust of his new administration, he stated that the nation would remain committed to global peace and continue  its role  in the  Economic Community of West African States  (ECOWAS) and  the African Union.

The President used the opportunity of the ceremony to extend an olive branch to leaders of the opposition parties to join him in the task of national reconstruction.

Said he: “I call on presidential  candidates of opposition parties that contested the last presidential election against me to join me in the task of rebuilding our nation”.

Some of the prominent Nigerians who attended the occasion agreed with the President that with his assumption of office, the nation had witnessed a new dawn. This view was expressed by former Governor of old Anambra State Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife while speaking to Vanguard at Eagle Square on Sunday. He maintained that the most important thing was that the day had come and it had been eventually been celebrated adding that he looked forward to change under the new dispensation.

Said he: “This is the beginning of a new dawn and we are happy with it” He commended the President for his speech and described it as rich and  balanced.

Browne Kutswa, a  Kenyan journalist  who was a member of that country’s Vice President’s  delegation to the ceremony  was also full of praises  for Nigeria.  He described the swearing-in-ceremony as colourful and  opined that Nigeria’s democracy had matured adding that he had visited the country six times and seen much progress within this period.

Said he: “It is good that democracy has taken root in Nigeria. Nigeria is now on the right path. Africa would benefit from it  because the rest of  the continent  looks up to Nigeria”.

Dr. Olisemeka  Chikwendu, a legal practitioner  who also attended the ceremony  was also full of optimism that President Jonathan would take Nigeria to greater heights under his new administration.

He said he was highly impressed with the ceremony  adding that  there was hope that Nigeria would take its rightful place in the comity of nations in no distant time.

Dr Chikwendu-who is also  the Executive Director of Africa Concerned Network – said he accompanied the president throughout the 36 states of the federation during the electioneering campaign and became convinced about his transformation agenda.

In response to a question, he said the absence of  some  prominent members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the ceremony was of little or no consequence.

Said he: “ Most prominent people in this country attended today’s (yesterday’s) ceremony. The likes of former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who  were not here constitute only a minority. The minority would have its say, but the majority would have its way. That is what democracy is all about”.

He observed that since majority of the nation’s past leaders attended the event, the ceremony was largely successful.

“As far as most Nigerians are concerned, there is jubilation in most parts of this country today. Those who are not participating in the jubilation have the right to feel otherwise but the election which ushered in this event was free and fair” he said.

Simon Amaduobugha also a  lawyer  but  based in Port-Harcourt said he  travelled to Abuja to witness the event as an individual. In response to a question concerning the prevailing mood in  Rivers State capital,  he said, “the mood in Port-Harcourt is joyous, as you know Mr. President is a Port-Harcourt boy”

He continued: “The ceremony is symbolic and historic because Nigeria is beginning to have the unity we have been praying for, for a long time.”

He said he expected a new dawn under the new dispensation; I expect that  the President would appoint people who can deliver into the right positions.  He urged the political class to give the President a chance to deliver on his transformation agenda.

His  friend  who gave his name as Patrick Ekade said he hailed from the President’s home State of Bayelsa. Ekade who said he was a staff of the Due Process and E-Government Unit of the Bayelsa  State Governor’s Office said he came all the way from Yenagoa to attend the ceremony.

Said he: “We are happy and that was why many of us came down here to witness this ceremony. We came here to solidarise with the President.

Said he: “We expect good governance under this new dispensation; We believe he would make things work better in this country as he did it for us when he was our Governor in Bayelsa”.

The event was preceded by a tight security cordon which was thrown around  the Eagle Square venue of the event.  All access roads leading to the area which is located beside the Federal Secretariat  were sealed off by thousands of armed forces and security personnel.   Only invited guests were allowed to come anywhere near the venue. Such invited guests must have invitation cards  or tags which were issued after such invitees had been cleared by the State Security Service (SSS).

Even the security operatives themselves had identification tags. Even with the tags, invitees had to go through series of checks conducted  by several layers of security personnel. There were scores of  soldiers, naval and airforce men, officers of the military police and those of the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Nigeria Police force.

Private cars were completely refused entry into any of the adjoining streets to the Square. Owners of such cars had to park their vehicles at designated places and then board buses that had been provided to convey invitees from different parts of the world to the venue.

Mobile telephones at the venue became useless as  they were believed to have been jammed with security devices. This was later extended to most parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

Officers and men of the armed forces and police  who participated in the parade ceremony were already on parade as early as 9 am. However, activities at the square only began after the President arrived at exactly 11 am. This was followed by the Christian opening prayers which was offered by the Primate of the Anglican Church Archbishop Nicholas Okoh. The Chief Imam of the National Mosque also said the Islamic Prayers.

Shortly after his arrival, the Commander of the Brigade of Guards Brig. Gen. A.J. Atewe invited the President to inspect the Guard of Honour which had been mounted for him.

Then the Parade Commader Lt. Col Olatunji Isiaka Owolabi took charge of proceedings and led the armed forces and police personnel on parade to engage in slow march to salute the President. They also marched round the square in a slow motion with precision. The parade formation later engaged in quick march round the square to the admiration of the invitees who responded with occasional applause.

A special group of armed forces officers who carried the service flags for the Army, Navy and Airforce  were also part of the parade formation and invitees were always asked to stand up as a sign of respect for the armed forces each time the flag party marched past the front of seated guests.

There was also a dance by 1050 children. The children entertained guests with their calisthenics display which also attracted applause from the audience.

There was no dull moment throughout the ceremony. The swearing proper began when  one of the masters of ceremony  invited the Registrar of the Supreme Court Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi to commence the exercise. It was Vice-President Namadi Sambo who took his own oath-of-office and oath of allegiance first. Shortly after the Vice-President was sworn in, President Jonathan was also sworn in.

Immediately after he  was sworn in,  it was announced that his first  official assignment was to  inspect another Guard of Honour. The next stage was the presentation of the Coat-Of -Arms to him by the Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshall Oluseyi Petirin. The Coat of Arms on which is embossed the words “Unity and Faith” was immediately put inside the spare car in the President’s convoy and taken away. During the process, this symbol of military authority, was guarded by fierce-looking soldiers in line with military tradition.

This was followed  by  the lowering of the old  national flag and those of the armed forces and the hoisting of new ones by the flag-bearers. The new flags which were hoisted-signifying the beginning of a new dispensation- were provided by Air Marshall Petinrin.

The ceremony ended with 21 gun salute after which the President went to exchange greetings with the large number of  Heads  of State and other foreign dignitaries who attended the event.

The event was attended my many foreign Heads of State , Presidents and Prime Ministers. These Included Presidents: Jacob Zuma of South Africa;  Atta Mills of Ghana;  Joseph Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo;  Yoweri Museveni of Uganda; Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia; Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe; Abdul Wade of Senegal; Faure Gnassimbe of Togo; Boni Yayi of Benin; John Koroma of Sierra-Leone; Blaise Compaore of Burkina Fasso; Allasane Quattara of Cote D’Ivoire; Ali Bongo of Gabon; Ahmadu Toure of Mali; Maxwell Richards of Trinidad and Tobago and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

Also President were presidents of Guinea Bissau , Guinea Conakry, Sao-Tome and Principe, Niger, Rwanda, Burundi, Swaziland, Congo Brazzavile, Central African Republic, Chad, Morrocco,

Several Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers  also represented their countries. These included those of Kenya, Korea Democratic Republic, Georgia and  Zambia. Also present were former President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and Jerry Rawlings of Ghana.

Members of the diplomatic corps were also well represented.

Eminent Nigerians who attended the occasion were former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Shagari; former Heads of State were: Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar  and Chief Ernest Shonekan. Also present was former Vice-President Dr. Alex Ekwueme. Among Governors who attended the occasion were  Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke.