By ISMAILA CHAFE

The Presidency says President Muhammadu Buhari is eager to commence his retirement after handing over of the mantle of leadership to President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, on May 29.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman disclosed this in a statement on Friday, reacting to a story published by the Sahara Reporters insinuating that the President might not hand over power to Tinubu on May 29.

Shehu, however, denounced the story as outrageous and fake.

“The Presidency wishes to denounce as outrageous and fake, and condemns the fake news brigade for attributing a false quote to President Muhammadu Buhari and circulating it.

“How can you vigorously campaign for somebody, vote for him and then say you won’t hand over to him? This beggars belief.

“The situation of the Sahara Reporters is pretty pathetic since their ownership is politically partisan in today’s politics, in fact a loser in the presidential election.

“Instead of talking about issues, they repeatedly sell lies in the hope that people believe them as truth.”

According to the presidential aide, the government is already in transition phase.

He revealed that the Transition Committee, made up of representatives of the outgoing administration and the incoming one had been meeting on an almost daily basis, planning the handover to the Tinubu/Shettima administration.

According to him, 13 committees as offshoots of the main committee, some of which are charged with arranging military drills and pulling out of President Buhari, are either all at work or soon to be.

“So far, everything is going very well and there is no indication of any hitches.

“As for the President, the Daura community has begun their preparations to receive their son back after the successful administration of the country for two terms of eight years.

“He, for his part, is eager to return home to enjoy his retirement,” he added. (NAN)

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