New Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, salutes his supporters during his Inauguration in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. (AP Photo)
Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing, singing praises and releasing white doves as Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls, became their president.U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, accompanied by the commander of U.S. Africa Command, Gen. David M. Rodriguez, was the first foreign official to meet with Nigeria's new leader after the inauguration. A senior State Department official said Washington is ready to increase military aid and could quickly send more advisers. More pics after cut...
To roars of approval at the ceremony, President Buhari pledged to take personal charge of the fight against Boko Haram Islamic extremists and said he will root out human rights violations by the military — abuses that prevented full military cooperation from the U.S. and Britain.Buhari, a 72-year-old former general who ruled briefly as a military dictator in the 1980s, calls himself a "born-again democrat" and has pledged to fight the endemic corruption that keeps a rich nation impoverished.
"We see him as our only hope against this crippling corruption," said Efo Okorare, curator of an open-air exhibition of portraits of Nigerian leaders, pointing out the many in military uniforms.
Buhari saluted Nigerians, whether or not they voted for him.
"I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody," he said to applause. "I intend to serve as president to all Nigerians."Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation with its biggest economy and is the largest oil producer, but government coffers have been hit by massive corruption, a devalued naira currency, low oil prices and a $63 billion debt which grows as Nigeria borrows more to pay government salaries.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, introduces newly inaugurated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, second from right, to Hakeem Olajuwon, left, NBA Legend and Olympic Gold Medalist, before the start of a formal meeting near Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing, singing at the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
New Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, salutes his supporters during his Inauguration in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, introduces newly inaugurated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, second from right, to Hakeem Olajuwon, left, NBA Legend and Olympic Gold Medalist, before the start of a formal meeting near Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
New Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, swears in with a Quran during his Inauguration in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
POOL--Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the inauguration Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing, singing at the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, talks with newly inaugurated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, before the start of a formal meeting near Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
Former General and Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, arrives for his Inauguration at the eagle square in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, talks with newly inaugurated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, before the start of a formal meeting near Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
A Nigeria police offcier is seen during the 21 gun salute at the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Nigeria Soldiers parade during the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Nigeria Soldiers parade during the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Chadian President Idriss Deby, left, and Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou arrive for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Senegal President Macky Sall arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Benin Republic President Thomas Boni Yayi arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, center, arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Chadian President Idriss Deby arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, at the eagle square in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Ghanian President, John Dramani Mahama, arrives for the Inauguration of the new Nigerian President , Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, centre, moves towards his motorcade following the inauguration of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing at the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, talks with newly inaugurated Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing at the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, centre, arrived for the Inauguration of Nigeria's new President , Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf arrives for the inauguration of the new Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja , Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing songs and praises at the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, talks with Nigerian President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, right, as he arrives for the presidential inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 29, 2015, with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, at left. Nigerians celebrated their newly reinforced democracy Friday, dancing and singing at the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the first candidate to beat a sitting president at the polls. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)
No comments:
Post a Comment