In a ceremony held in the capital, Abuja, Bola Tinubu, 71, has been sworn in as the next president of Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy. He won February’s election with a promise to renew hope, but he faces tough economic and security challenges.
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Tinubu takes over from two-term President Muhammadu Buhari amid a high inflation rate, record debt levels, and increasing cases of kidnap-for-ransom. However, his victory is being challenged in court by his two closest rivals, who claim the outcome was manipulated.
Despite this, the outgoing president, who did not run in the election after eight years in power, said the results were “credible” and the vote was “fair and transparent.”
Dignitaries from across the continent attended the swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, reflecting the significance of the event. However, Tinubu may have little time to celebrate as Nigerians expect swift action.
Inflation is running at its highest rate for nearly 18 years, one in three people are unemployed, and the output of the vital oil industry is shrinking. He will have to move quickly to convince people who did not vote for him that he is up to the task.
As a trained accountant and two-term governor of Lagos, Tinubu is unlikely to be fazed by the challenges. He revitalized Nigeria’s commercial hub and is well aware of the issues.
His allies say he will take the same technocratic and thoughtful approach to running Nigeria, a vast country of more than 200 million people. But opponents of the incoming president say he has lost the vitality he used to forcefully modernize Lagos.
Since the election he has travelled abroad twice, raising questions about his health. In 2021 he spent months in London being treated for an undisclosed illness. He has brushed off the criticism, saying the job does not require the fitness of an Olympic athlete – and his associates are quick to remind everyone that US President Joe Biden is older, at 80.
But if the candidates who came second and third – Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, in February’s presidential election have their way then Mr. Tinubu may not be in power for very long.
The election tribunal is expected to start hearing the main arguments on Tuesday and the outcome of the case should be known within the next six months.
