Politics
Samia Suluhu sworn in as Tanzanian first female president
Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan was on Friday sworn in as the country’s first female president after the sudden death of John Magufuli from an illness shrouded in mystery.
Hassan, 61, a soft-spoken Muslim woman from the island of Zanzibar, will finish Magufuli’s second five-year term, set to run until 2025.
Wearing a bright red headscarf, Hassan was sworn in as the country’s sixth president, at a ceremony in Dar es Salaam, where neither she nor the majority of attendees wore a mask, in the Covid-sceptic nation.
“I, Samia Suluhu Hassan, promise to be honest and obey and protect the constitution of Tanzania,” said the new president, as she took the oath of office before inspecting troops at a military parade and receiving a cannon salute.
She becomes the only other current serving female head of state in Africa alongside Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde, whose role is mainly ceremonial.
Hassan was little known outside Tanzania until she appeared on state television on Wednesday night to announce that Magufuli had died aged 61 from a heart condition after a mysterious three -eek absence from public view.
But questions have been raised over the true cause of his death, after multiple rumours that Magufuli — one of the world’s most fervent Covid-sceptic leaders — had caught the virus and had sought treatment abroad.
Main opposition leader Tundu Lissu insists his sources said Magufuli had Covid-19 and had actually died a week ago.
And Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper, which last week reported an “African leader”, in clear reference to Magufuli, was in a Nairobi hospital, on Friday gave more details of his illness, also indicating Magufuli had in fact died last week.
Citing sources, the paper said Magufuli was discharged from Nairobi Hospital on life support after it was determined he could not be resuscitated, and returned to Dar es Salaam where he died last Thursday.
The paper details his initial evacuation to Nairobi on March 8 in a medical plane, as he suffered “acute cardiac and respiratory illnesses.”
The main question hanging over the new president is whether she will usher in a change in leadership style from her predecessor, nicknamed the “Bulldozer”, notably in the handling of the pandemic.
– ‘A new chapter’ –
Magufuli leaves behind a complex legacy, after a swing to authoritarianism which saw him crack down on the media, activists and free speech, while refusing to take any measures against Covid-19.
He called for prayer instead of face masks, refused to publish case statistics or implement lockdown measures, and championed alternative medicines.
In May last year he revealed a papaya, quail and goat had tested positive for the virus in a secret operation, proving “sabotage” at the national laboratory.
However by February, as cases soared and the vice president of semi-autonomous Zanzibar was revealed to have died from Covid-19, Magufuli conceded the virus was still circulating.
The opposition and rights groups have urged Hassan to change course.
“As we continue mourning, let us use this period to open up a new chapter for rebuilding national unity and respect to freedom, justice, rule of law, democracy and people-centred development,” said Freeman Mbowe, the chairman of opposition group Chadema, in a statement Thursday.
He urged Hassan to “lead the nation toward reconciliation”.
Meanwhile Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the new government “has a chance for a fresh start by ending problematic past practices.”
– ‘Hold your breath’ –
However analysts say Hassan will face early pressure from powerful Magufuli allies within the party, who dominate intelligence and other critical aspects of government, and would try and steer her decisions and agenda.
“For those who were kind of expecting a breakaway from the Magufuli way of things I would say hold your breath at the moment,” said Thabit Jacob, a researcher at the Roskilde University in Denmark and expert on Tanzania.
Hailing from Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous island in the Indian Ocean, Hassan rose through the ranks over a 20-year political career from local government to the national assembly.
A ruling party stalwart, she was named Magufuli’s running mate in the 2015 presidential campaign. The pair were re-elected in October last year in a disputed poll marred by allegations of irregularities.
Hassan must consult the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) about appointing a new vice president. The party is set to hold a special meeting of its central committee on Saturday.
Tanzania is observing a 14-day mourning period and details on Magufuli’s funeral have yet to be announced.
Magufuli is the second East African leader to die under mysterious circumstances.
Burundi’s equally Covid-sceptic leader, Pierre Nkurunziza, died from “heart failure” last June after his wife was flown to Nairobi to be treated for coronavirus.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, has revealed that his decision to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was made with the knowledge and approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
El-Rufai, who officially announced his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Monday through a statement on his verified Facebook page, disclosed this in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday.
The former governor stated that he has always sought Buhari’s counsel on major political decisions, including his departure from the APC.
“There are certain people that before I do any major thing or make any decision, I consult, and anything they ask me not to do, I don’t do, and former President Muhammadu Buhari is among them,” El-Rufai said.
“I consulted Buhari before leaving the APC. It was on a Friday when I went and met him. I hardly make any major decision without consulting him. I told him to pray for me and give me his blessings, which he did.”
El-Rufai also recalled how, during his time as Kaduna State governor, he sought Buhari’s input on key appointments, including the selection of commissioners.
“Even when I was governor of Kaduna before I appointed my commissioners, I took the list to Buhari for cross-checking to see if, from among them, someone ever insulted him.
“He laughed, thanked me, and told me to go ahead and appoint my commissioners,” he added.
…blames Governor for Repeated Market Fires
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has berated Governor Seyi Makinde over what it described as his administration’s failure to prevent recurring fire disasters across the state.
The opposition party expressed concerns following the devastating fire that gutted the popular Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan on Tuesday night, destroying goods and properties worth billions of naira.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and made available to journalists, the APC accused the Makinde-led administration of incompetence, negligence, and poor disaster management.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the traders who lost so much in money and property as a result of the unfortunate Tuesday night inferno, which has become a recurring decimal across the state. However, we must challenge the Makinde administration on its approach to safety, accident prevention, and emergency management,” the statement read.
Questions Over Alleged Fire Truck Procurement
The opposition party also raised concerns over the capacity of the Oyo State Fire Service, alleging that its inability to respond effectively to emergencies was due to a lack of functional firefighting equipment.
According to the statement, credible sources confirmed that firefighters could not contain the Aleshinloye inferno due to the unavailability of basic equipment.
“How does one explain that Oyo State can only boast of one or two firefighting trucks, even when Governor Makinde announced in 2020 that he had procured 10 fire trucks from Turkey with millions of naira in public funds?” the APC queried.
The party demanded that the government provide a detailed explanation on the status of the fire trucks and called for an urgent overhaul of the state’s fire response system.
Illegal Structures, Workers’ Strike Also Highlighted
Beyond the fire incidents, the APC also accused the Makinde administration of violating urban planning laws by allowing unauthorized construction in major markets across the state.
“Government agents have built lock-up shops and malls indiscriminately, blocking access roads, car parks, and emergency exits. This reckless behavior is endangering lives,” the party alleged.
The statement also touched on the ongoing industrial action by workers in state-owned tertiary institutions and health facilities, urging the governor to meet their demands to prevent further disruption in critical sectors.
APC Demands Immediate Action
The opposition party called on the state government to empower the Fire Service with adequate personnel and modern equipment.
“It is equally important to prioritize public safety through fire prevention awareness campaigns. Also, we demand full disclosure on the 10 firefighting trucks supposedly purchased from Turkey,” Sadare stated.
Kaduna State’s immediate past governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has officially resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing dissatisfaction with the party’s current leadership direction.
El-Rufai announced his departure in a statement on Monday, expressing his disillusionment with the APC’s deviation from its foundational progressive ideals.
“At this point in my political journey, I have come to the conclusion that I must seek another political platform for the pursuit of the progressive values I cherish. I have now decided to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP),” he declared.
The former governor disclosed that he had repeatedly voiced concerns, both privately and publicly, about the party’s declining trajectory over the past two years. However, he lamented that the APC’s leadership showed no willingness to address the issues.
“Developments in the last two years on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the state,” he said.
El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna governor between 2015 and 2023, highlighted his administration’s commitment to progressive governance but noted that his contributions have been disregarded under the current APC leadership.
“My eight-year tenure in Kaduna State was devoted to implementing progressive policies to advance human development. These records count for little in the current APC that has castrated its organs and treated its membership with contempt in the last two years. I find this no longer acceptable,” he added.
As part of his defection process, El-Rufai confirmed that he had formally submitted his resignation letter to his APC ward in Kaduna North Local Government Area.
A New Political Path
The former governor described the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as his new political platform, calling on his supporters and concerned Nigerians to join him in the movement. He stressed the need for a strong democratic alternative to challenge the APC in future elections.
His decision follows recent consultations with prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Vice Presidential candidate Tunde Bakare, and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
El-Rufai’s defection also comes amid reports of tensions between him and the presidency, with the former governor notably absent from the APC National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting last month.
His departure marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, with many observers speculating on its potential impact ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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