Aliyu Abba
Dr. Ukata Agatha
Section 1
WRI 102
17th June 2015
Research Paper

President Buhari’s Inaugural speech.

For years, different Individuals with zeal and passion have come and left the office of the President after their tenure. After every election, the President elect is expected to give an inaugural speech after being sworn in as the President and commander in chief of the armed forces of the nation. President Muhammadu Buhari was not left out in this historic attribute that is carried out during this great period. Muhammadu Buhari served as head of state as an army officer from 1984 to 1985. Now he has become the democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His victory denoted the first occasion that the then office holder had crushed in Nigeria (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica). President Muhammadu Buhari began his Inaugural speech by welcoming and honoring distinguished special guests. Political analysts have sat down and compared this Inaugural speech and the one he gave as a military leader. They say he has now become a more democratic man because he took time to honor and welcome special guest and Nigerian citizens because he did not say any of that in his Inaugural speech as a military head of state in 1983. Many Presidents have come into office and deceived Nigerian citizens with the lies in their Inaugural speech. They give Nigerian’s hope that they’ll make this country great and they end up disappointing them by not completing the objectives they’ve set out. Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for example, in his Inaugural speech, he emphasized too much about transforming Nigeria as a whole. In quote in his Inaugural speech in 2011 he said “The transformation will be achieved in all the critical sectors, by harnessing the creative energies of our people. We must grow the economy, create jobs, and generate enduring happiness for our people”. (Limited). Years came to pass and Goodluck Jonathan has not done half of the things he said he’d do. Instead, the Nigerian economy he said he’d transform changed from bad to worse. Nigerians became very frustrated with him and they asked for a change of administration. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was one of the worst in Nigeria’s history. When the result of the 2015 elections were being counted, President Muhammadu Buhari was leading with a very big margin that President Jonathan called him and congratulated him. The President elect and the Nigerian citizens thanked and commended him for his amiable action. There have been rumors since the election in 2011 that when Muhammadu Buhari comes to office he will prosecute some government officials. He addressed the issue in his speech. In quote he said, “A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prolong”. (Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria). Some political analysts have stated this is one of the reasons that Muhammadu Buhari lost the 2011 election. The government officials were terrified that they will be prosecuted when he comes to office so they campaigned against him. President Muhammadu Buhari thanked million of supporters who stayed all day in the rain and hot sun to cast and protect their votes to make sure it counts. He also applauded those that carried the campaign on social media, as social media is now very influential.
President Muhammadu Buhari made it clear that he will serve as President to all Nigerians and he is willing to listen to every Nigerian’s voiced opinion. He backs this up by using this quote “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”. (Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria). The audiences present in the Eagle square Abuja and everywhere around the world never expected the quote, the whole of Eagle Square roared when President Muhammadu Buhari said it. President Muhammadu Buhari hailed the founding fathers of Nigeria in his speech. He called their names and applauded them for their actions. In quote he said, “They’ve worked to establish certain standards of governance”. His Excellency showed a high level of composure and confidence that overwhelmed many that witnessed the auspicious event. He caught the hearts of many with the emphasis of how his government will have zero tolerance to indiscipline and corruption. He was not bias in his speech as he also pointed out that he will not hesitate to punish any renegade whether or not that party is in his cabinet. Many would say that he portrayed himself as one that many will fear to conspire against. Despite receiving critics from different angles, it is no doubt that Buhari is one for the people and also the future of this prestigious and soon to be reformed country that is Nigeria.

Ex Nigerian ruler Goodluck Jonathan reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech. He applauded His Excellency for pledging alliance to all in his speech. In quote he said, “Buhari said he does not belong to any clique, and I congratulate him for that statement. It shows that we should all rally around him to work towards the development of the country and make Nigerians happy (DATBOYJERRY). The President’s speech also got International attention as the United States Secretary of State said some words concerning the speech. John Kerry described the speech as a powerful agenda. In quote he said,
“The inauguration is historic and very promising. The President made a very important speech, laid out a very powerful agenda and the United States is prepared to work very closely to do everything we can on the economy, Boko Haram and other issues. The President did a very great job today.” (Godwin) His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, through his speech, has showed his zeal, passion, willingness and readiness to serve his country with all his heart, might and to the fullest of his ability despite his old age. At the same time, he has shown Nigerians that patience must be exercised in order to fulfill this dream that many have depicted as “The Impossible” for years. His speech contains not what people want to hear but rather what they need to hear. With all this being said, it is with no doubt that this prestigious speech that will be remembered for generations to come, portents not just the good, but the betterment of the country as a whole.

Works Cited
DATBOYJERRY. GEJ Reacts To President Buhari’s Inaugural Speech. 31 May 2015. 17 June 2015 <http://www.360nobs.com/2015/05/gej-reacts-to-president-buharis-inaugural-speech/>.
Godwin, Ameh Comrade. Others hail President Buhari's Inaugural speech. 30 May 2015. 18 June 2015 <http://dailypost.ng/2015/05/30/kerry-atiku-others-hail-president-buharis-inaugural-speech/>.
Limited, Vision Africa Gold Internation Communication. Cover story: President Goodluck Jonathan Inaugural speech. 29 May 2011. 17 June 2015 <http://visionafricamagazine.com/President_Goodluck_Jonathan's_Inaugural_Speech.html>.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Muhammadu Buhari: Head of state of Nigeria." 29 May 2015. Encyclopædia Britannica. 17 June 2015 <http://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammadu-Buhari>.
Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria. President Buhari's Inaugural speech. 29 May 2015. 17 June 2015 <http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/read-president-buhari-inaugural-speech/>.