JONATHAN HANDS OVER ON MAY 28,GIVES MDAs DEADLINE

Jonathan hands over May 28, gives MDAs deadline

Bipi to Amaechi: Congratulate Wike now

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday gave all Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) April 20 deadline to submit their hand-over notes even as the hand-over is on May 28.
This is even as Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Evans Bipi, urged Governor Rotimi Amaechi to con­gratulate the Governor-elect, Chief Nye­som Wike and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ministers are also expected to brief the President on inherited and ongoing projects as well as their levels of completion and all pending contracts that require presidential approval should be submitted on or before May 3.
Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, disclosed this at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja yesterday which is the first after the general elections.
According to her, the hand-over notes which are to be put together by ministers and other heads of parastatals are to be submitted to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) before April 20.

The notes from the MDAs are to assist the transition committee chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo put together the final hand-over document for the President.
Akwashiki said the FEC will continue holding its meeting till May 20, noting that the hand-over will be done May 28 at a dinner before the formal handing over and swearing-in of Buhari, on May 29.
Akwashiki said: “You know we are already in transition, so, there is very little to report. What we discussed with the President-in-Council, he emphasized on the need for all MDAs to submit their hand-over notes to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by April 20, that is next Monday. So, we are going to be very busy this weekend putting our hand-over notes together.

“The President also emphasized that he would require another little briefing from all MDAs to indicate inherited projects, how far they have been executed and initiated projects by his administration and the level of completion, whether completed, ongoing or abandoned.
“So that was it at the council meeting. We discussed other issues, but we are particularly paying attention to the transition and how to make it effective. As you are all aware, we have a transition committee already set up by President, headed by the Vice President.

“Other than that, we have an inaugural committee that is headed by the SGF. So, everything we are doing is to achieve smooth transition, getting all our notes together. By May 28, the President intends to have the formal hand-over done at a dinner so that the 29th is for the incoming government.
“Also, you know May 29 is our Democracy Day, so we have activities lined up all through that week, showcasing all what we have achieved and all other things we do normally on that day except that this year is special with the inauguration of our new President that is coming up on the May 29,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bipi gave the advice yesterday in Ogu, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area during a victory party organized by the PDP.
He also congratulated the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.
The Speaker advised Amaechi and APC to be courageous and accept defeat, as President Goodluck Jonathan did, and spare himself, his party and the state the problem of a legal tussle.
Bipi appealed to General Buhari not to meddle in Rivers elections, but to allow the peace the outgoing President had enthroned in the country to reign, warning any contrary action would be resisted.

“We believe the man, Buhari, has enough integrity to respect the Rule of Law and the will of the people. But any attempt by him to tamper with the politics or collective will of the people of Rivers State will be resisted,” Bipi said.
“My people are celebrating the exit of Governor Amaechi and the emergence of a new dawn. Governor Amaechi assumed more than Jesus,” he said.

Bipi, who was re-elected last Saturday as House of Assembly member, assured that his leadership would not probe Amaechi, but hinted that he might be called upon to make some clarifications, where and when necessary.