The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Thursday reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to present an inaugural speech after his swearing-in.
Buhari had yesterday set a new standard after he failed to make an inaugural after taking his oath of office at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
However, HURIWA said Buhari may have “deliberately skipped his inaugural speech” due to the widespread perception that he failed to address up to thirty per cent of the key policy objectives embodied in his first inaugural address in 2015.
In a statement signed and forwarded to DAILY POST by its National coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group said Nigerians should hold the president on his 2015 inaugural speech in the absence of one during his last swearing-in.
The statement reads partly: “Since the advent of the current constitution in 1999, which is our ground norm, the transition from one administration to another happens every May 29th.
“This year’s version has come and gone. However, what are still being digested across board are the speeches made by those set of governors and the president whose oaths of offices were administered on this epochal day.
“With the exception of President Muhammadu Buhari who made no speech after his final inauguration, all others like the governors of the nearly 27 states whereby swearing-in ceremonies took place made speeches.
“These speeches are simply the representation of their blueprints for their constituents and are the exact benchmarks that should be monitored by all in line with section 14 (2) (c) of the constitution which provides that “the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this constitutions”.
“In the absence of any inaugural speech from the president in the last inauguration, Nigerians are obliged to hold him on his 2015 presidential inauguration speech.
“Perhaps, Mr. President deliberately skipped his inaugural speech on May 29th 2019 because of the widespread perception that he never addressed up to thirty per cent of the key policy objectives embodied in his first inaugural address in 2015.
“For instance, he said in 2015 that he is the man for all and was no tool of any regional interests. But he failed to abide by this solemn pledge to be the national leader. He gave out all the top national security posts to his fellow Moslems as against the Federal Character Principles enshrined in the Constitution. Buhari made no speech but the governors did make speeches in style.”
