Ramaphosa to attend inauguration of Nigeria's Tinubu
Long-time political kingmaker Bola Tinubu is set to be sworn in as Nigeria's new president on Monday, as Africa's most populous nation navigates a sea of economic troubles and grave insecurity.
The 71-year-old southerner is from the same party as outgoing Muhammadu Buhari, the 80-year-old northerner and former army general stepping down after two terms in office.
President Cyril Ramaphosa travelled to Nigeria at the weekend and is expected to attend Monday’s inauguration.
“While in Abuja, President Ramaphosa will attend the inauguration gala dinner hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari, outgoing president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in honour of Heads of State and Government attending the inauguration,” the Presidency said in a statement on Sunday.
“President Ramaphosa is also expected to attend the luncheon hosted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after his inauguration in honour of Heads of State and Government and other invited guests attending the inauguration.”
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Tinubu was declared the winner of the February 25 election with 8.8 million votes and the required number of ballots across two-thirds of Nigeria's states.
Both the main opposition leader Atiku Abubakar, who came second, and outsider Peter Obi, who was third, are contesting the results in court, claiming fraud.
The electoral commission acknowledged "glitches" during the vote but dismissed claims that the process was not free and fair.
More than 80 million of the country's estimated 210 million people live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank, and the UN has warned that over of a quarter of those are facing acute hunger this year.
Despite thriving tech and entertainment sectors, many middle-class Nigerians are moving abroad hoping for a brighter future.
