Govt briefs diplomats on inauguration arrangements

Posted by admin Latest Politics Thursday, May 26th, 2011

PROTOCOL guidelines detailing security precautions were rolled out yesterday by the Federal Government in a bid to obviate perceived anxiety by the international community over security and safety of world leaders and their delegation to the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday.

Among others, the government wants details of the nature of arms and foreign security personnel to bear them during the event.

The government told the diplomatic community yesterday that the security arrangements are tailored to take care of possible internal and external threats in any part of the country.

Amid the intense preparations for the President’s swearing in, Hope Democratic Party (HDP) yesterday filed an application before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, praying it to stop the exercise.

The party also wants the tribunal to restrain Jonathan and the Vice President Namadi Sambo from presenting themselves on the said date for inauguration as President-elect and Vice President-elect to allow its petition against their joint victory at the April polls to be determined.

Briefing heads of diplomatic missions in Abuja on administrative and other arrangements for the inauguration, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, said advance teams of visiting presidents, heads of state and other world leaders had been advised to arrive in Nigeria today.

He told the diplomats that firearms to be brought into the country require special clearance and must be accompanied by full particulars of holders such as names (as indicated on official documents), nationality, date of birth, expiry date and place of issue.

Others are particulars of firearms – make and model, calibre, serial number and rounds of ammunition (not more than 45).

He said no automatic weapons; assault rifles or unclear firearms would be permitted into Nigeria, adding that each delegation shall be allowed a maximum of five firearms only (regardless of the profile of country).

Uhomoibhi said all aircraft coming into the country in heed of invitation “must obtain flight clearance prior to their departure to Nigeria.”

Such requests, Uhomoibhi explained, should be channelled through the respective missions or directly to the protocol department of the ministry.

Foreign missions in Nigeria were also advised to obtain over-flight clearance and all aircraft requirements for their delegations through the protocol department at least four working days to the arrival of plane.

On internal security arrangement, the government said special stickers shall be issued to all screened vehicles by the ministry’s protocol department.

The briefing also covered medical services, movements, accommodation and diplomatic courtesies.

And on Tuesday night, Jonathan allayed worries within and outside the country of his commitment to transforming the nation in the next dispensation. He said he has “the political will to do what is needed for Nigeria to move forward.”

At a pre-inaugural dinner for Corporate Nigeria at the State House, Marina, Lagos, the President said he had promised to conduct credible elections based on one-man one-vote and had achieved the feat.

“I was prepared to concede defeat if I had lost and it would have been honourable for me and would have been on record, but luckily I did not lose. I have no apologies for doing what is right.”

The President, who explained that he arranged the dinner to thank the group, whose members gave his candidacy overwhelming support, said: “Government must protect the business people if we must transform this nation.”

Highlighting the enormous challenges ahead of Nigeria in the next four years, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Jonathan believed that with the active support of the private sector, he was prepared to lead and not rule Nigeria to meet set goals.

“If others can transform their country, collectively we can do it,” he said.

The Chairman of the Presidential Inauguration Committee and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, had said the dinner was to demonstrate the President’s appreciation of the important role of the private sector in moving the economy forward.

The government also yesterday unfolded the programmes that will culminate in the presidential inauguration on May 29.

Yayale Ahmed, who briefed journalists in Abuja, said the interaction with reporters marked the commencement of the major activities lined-up for the event.

The President’s interactive sessions with the business community and youths in Lagos have already taken place. Jonathan had told the youths that he would not scrap the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme as being demanded in some quarters. The agitation for the abolition of the scheme heightened following the killing of 10 corps members during the post-polls violence in Bauchi State.

An exhibition and unveiling of President Jonathan’s portrait will hold tomorrow at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Other activities slated for the event are an inauguration lecture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Hall today in Abuja.

The First Lady’s banquet for women will also hold at the Banquet Hall, State House, today while Juma’at prayer is scheduled for tomorrow.

A Children’s Day will hold tomorrow featuring children’s march past, Children’s Parliament, and Children’s Party to be hosted by the President’s wife, Patience.

A football match between Kano Pillars Football Club and Enyimba Football Club of Aba, holds on Saturday at the National Stadium, Abuja, followed by a thanksgiving/church service at the National Christian Worship Centre, Abuja, at 4.00 p.m.

The activities will be capped with the swearing-in of the President on Sunday, May 29, at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

In the application by its counsel, Mr. Tochukwu Alozor, HDP prayed the Justice Ayo Isa Salami-led panel to issue an order of mandatory injunction directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend and withdraw the certificates of return already issued to the duo as President-elect and Vice President-elect.

The tribunal has fixed hearing of the application for tomorrow, according to the hearing notice sent to all the parties to the petition.

-Guardianwp_posts