‘Nigeria’s Inauguration Is No Cause Celebrè’ – Cardinal Onaiyekan, As South Africans Groove For Ramaphosa
The Oasis Reporters
May 26, 2019
As the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office approaches, Catholic Cardinal Onaiyekan has seen no reason for joy over the troubled nation beset by huge security problems.
While plans are in top gear for a celebration at Eagle Square in Abuja for the inauguration that is destined to be low key and sombre, lawyers are busy perfecting their assault and defence of the presidential election case at the Supreme Court over who actually won and who lost, due to the structure and design of Nigeria’s elections.
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, said it is no time to celebrate electoral victory or the defeat of political opponents.
Onaiyekan, who gave the message titled ‘Let us choose life, not death (Deuteronomy 30:19)’ during the ongoing presidential inauguration interdenominational church service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, called for spiritual reflection for the peace and prosperity of the nation.
He said, “The last election left thick clouds of acrimony that have yet to clear. This is no time for celebration of victory or defeat (of political opponents). Rather, it is time to pull our efforts together to tackle the serious challenges before us.
Bare-faced boasts and empty denials cannot build the nation.
“The Lord Jesus tells us that the truth will set us free. Our nation is not in a state to rejoice. Such wide socio-economic disparity has led to widespread anger, tension and outright criminality in the land. All is not well. But all is not lost.”
It is time to change habits of governance.
Onaiyekan stated, “Our ethnic diversity is God’s will and God’s gift that we ought to celebrate. In our emerging global world, we should be building on our long experience of living together along ethnic lines.
The country with a smooth electoral run devoid of rigging and manipulations, the Republic of South Africa whose elections were observed by Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan, a man not fearful of losing elections, just inaugurated it’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Albeit, he got advice from Julius Malema, an opposition politician, with straight talk, “listen to the South African people that elected you, not to the Stellenboschs or the Oppenheimers ( meaning entrenched business interests run by former white supremacists), or” the people will remove “you”.
And they clapped and hugged.
Expressions of joy and fulfilment filled the air and Soweto Gospel Choir was there At the Loftus Versfeld Stadium for Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration as President of South Africa.
Honored & privelege to be invited by the Presidency to perform at the Inauguration of PRESIDENT Matamela @CyrilRamaphosa .Best wishes go out to our new President.May he usher in an exciting new era of governance that all S Africans can be proud to be a part of.SIHOLE MATAMELA pic.twitter.com/lJHXk1eoh7
— Soweto Gospel Choir (@Sowetogospel) May 26, 2019
Hear them sing:
[WATCH] Soweto Gospel Choir performing ahead of President-elect Cyril Ramaphosa's inauguration. #Inauguration2019 #MorningNewsToday Courtesy #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/YtXdnDr22a
— eNCA (@eNCA) May 25, 2019
Many eminent personalities were there.
“I, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, swear that I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, and will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all law of the Republic…" Congratulations Mr. President! @CyrilRamaphosa 🇿🇦🙏🏾 #SAInauguration19 #AfricaDay 🌍 pic.twitter.com/dB0v6jcOzQ
— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) May 25, 2019
And the Namibian President :
Thank you my Dear Brother and President. https://t.co/dOz803gJaM
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 26, 2019
So was President ED Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe :
President ED Mnangagwa is in South Africa for the inauguration of President, Cyril Ramaphosa, today. And in the pic below it seems as if ED is saying to Ramaphosa "Bhora pasi mwana weAfrica!" #sabcnews #Zimbabwe @nelsonchamisa @zanupf_patriots pic.twitter.com/eZzFpzbll0
— Tatenda joseph (@Tatendajoseph1) May 25, 2019
Hao Mingjin, Chinese Premier’s special envoy was there as well :
President Xi Jinping's special envoy Hao Mingjin attended the inauguration ceremony of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. https://t.co/AtFoNwB8FY pic.twitter.com/fD6baGqmhk
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) May 26, 2019
His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa is congratulated by President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane after his Inauguration. #PeoplesInauguration 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/aM71BEcnpe
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) May 26, 2019
Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni came too
Back home from Pretoria where I attended the inauguration ceremony of His Excellency @CyrilRamaphosa as President of South Africa. pic.twitter.com/SqW7yHDE5M
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) May 26, 2019
And guess what, he was also at Madiba Nelson Mandela’s inauguration too about 25 years ago !
Nelson Mandela was inaugurated on 10 May 1994, and he quit on 14 June 1999.
Weren't you here for Nelson Mandela's inauguration as well? pic.twitter.com/BwibJLqaLk
— Mbathane Matshaya (@MbataneMatshaya) May 25, 2019
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda :
VIDEO: President Kagame in Pretoria for the Inauguration Ceremony of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. pic.twitter.com/UlbyJ3wHFO
— Presidency | Rwanda (@UrugwiroVillage) May 25, 2019
Narendra Modi of India :
Thank you Prime Minister Modi. https://t.co/w0E66NBvp4
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 26, 2019
Macky Sall of Senegal urges Cyril Ramaphosa to continue in the legacy of Nelson Mandela:
Merci Président https://t.co/3HFW3GVZce
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 26, 2019
Angela Merkel of Germany :
German Chancellor Angela Merkel just wrote to President @CyrilRamaphosa:
„I congratulate you sincerely on your election as President of South Africa. Permit me to wish you courage, skill and stamina, every success and all the best for the tasks that lie ahead“#SAInauguration19 pic.twitter.com/dPwB6gC3pY
— Martin Schäfer (@AmbSchaefer) May 25, 2019
Mohamed Farmaajo of Somalia :
Congratulations Your Excellency @CyrilRamaphosa on your inauguration as @PresidencyZA. I wish you success in your endeavors. As an important ally, we are glad South Africa achieved immense progress and development. pic.twitter.com/5VdMNKmi8T
— Mohamed Farmaajo (@M_Farmaajo) May 25, 2019
President João Lourenço of the Republic of Angola was equally at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane after Ramaphosa’s Inauguration.
Faure Gnassingbe of Togo :
Je tiens à adresser mes vives félicitations à mon frère et ami SEM @CyrilRamaphosa pour sa brillante élection à la Présidence de la République sœur d'Afrique du Sud .
Fort du riche entretien que nous avons eu en mars 2019 autour des questions essentielles qui engagent…
FEG pic.twitter.com/FAqiAyxvMr
— Faure E. Gnassingbe (@FEGnassingbe) May 14, 2019
Nigerian born Prof. Akinwumi Adesina :
Congratulations to President @CyrilRamaphosa of South Africa on his inauguration today. “I will build a nation where those seeking jobs can find them, especially our youth”. Well done President! The African Development Bank will support your vision! 👍🏼🎉 pic.twitter.com/fpV45U5u0u
— Akinwumi A. Adesina (@akin_adesina) May 25, 2019
And the sweet icing of women empowerment in South Africa. Meet South Africa’s first female fighter pilot. She displayed her skills in the air on inauguration day.
Major Mandisa Nomcebo Mfeka, first Black African Female combat fight pilot, took part in the fighter plane display at the inauguration ceremony of President Cyril Ramaphosa. #SAInauguration19 pic.twitter.com/uNWEng9ppg
— Man's Not Barry Roux (@AdvBarryRoux) May 25, 2019
That is as President Cyril Ramaphosa promises jobs and justice. He needs all the luck that he can get.
Credits: Twitter
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