Abuja, Nigeria (The Bloom Gist) - Nigeria's new President has been sworn today, Friday, 29th May, 2015. The transition marks the first peaceful transfer of power between rival parties in the nation.
President Buhari, when he takes over from Goodluck Jonathan, will have to face the stubborn militant insurgency and lingering fuel shortages despite Nigeria being a leading oil producer.
Among those who arrived Abuja friday to withness the inauguration are U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, South African president Jacob Zuma,
Buhari has ruled before
President Buhari has ruled Nigeria before as a military head of state between the 1960s and the 1990s.
He took over from Shehu Shagari after a military coup which brought him into power in 1983 - and another military coup toppled him two years later. The nation's history is riddled with coups and military rules.
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| Among those who arrived Abuja friday to withness the inauguration are U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, South African president Jacob Zuma, |
Buhari's regime was known for its "war on indiscipline," which critics say was marred by human rights abuses.
'Born-again democrat'
Buhari who ruled as a military ruler brought a reign of terror which put security along with corruption and the economy at the top of his campaign manifesto.
He campaigned as a born-again democrat to allay fears about his strict military regime while stressing that Nigeria's security needs to be a government focus.
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| Buhari's regime was known for its "war on indiscipline," which critics say was marred by human rights abuses |
"It's a question of security. Whether I was a former military officer or a politician through and through, when there is insecurity of this scale in the country, that takes the priority," he said.
Fourth time a charm
President Buhari had earlier admitted abuses committed during his previous military leadership, but said he was being judged too harshly and can transition into a democratic government.
"When that military administration came under my leadership, we suspended -- as a military then -- part of that constitution that we felt would be difficult for us to operate," he said.
