Photos: Guests at Obasanjo’s 83rd birthday screened
All the guests attending former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 83rd birthday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, in Ogun state were screened for any signs of fever before they enter hall.
Recalled that the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and former Governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi, had congratulated former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his 83rd birthday.
Secondus in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr Ike Abonyi, on Wednesday in Abuja, described Obasanjo as a foremost national leader, who did not allow tribe, religion or political party affiliation to block his leadership vision.
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Secondus said that in spite of Obasanjo’s outstanding contributions to the development and progress of the country, “Nigeria of today is certainly not what he dreamt of.”
He said that Obasanjo’s unflinching faith in the oneness of the country however, could not be diminished.
Secondus prayed God to grant the former president longer years ahead to witness the turnaround of the Nigeria of his dream.
He congratulated him for the landmark years and wished him more graceful aging.
On his part, Obi, the Vice Presidential candidate of PDP, commended Obasanjo for his patriotism and huge sacrifice to the country.
Obi in a statement by his Media Director, Valentine Obienyem, said that history would be kind to the former Nigerian leader for his contributions to the development of the country.
He noted that Obasanjo’s commitment to the unity of the country had remained exceptional and glaring.
Obi prayed God to grant Obasanjo many more fruitful years ahead especially as the country was going through enormous challenges that required the ideas of experienced elder-statesman like him.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also felicitating with former President in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Abuja commended the contributions of Obasanjo to the development of Nigeria, African continent and humanity.
He said that no individual living or dead had bestrode the Nigerian political space as positively and purposefully as Obasanjo had done, “for good and better, in peace time and war, in times of austerity, and times of prosperity.
“It is not an exaggeration to describe you as the preeminent political colossus in Nigeria, a nation that owes so much to you.
“Indeed, many Nigerians will read about your birthday on their GSM devices, which are one of your legacies to the Nigerian people.
“Your love for Nigeria and commitment to her unity, good governance and stability has prevented you from retiring, a sacrifice that my family and I deeply appreciate.
“From the Congo to South Africa to Angola to Liberia and São Tomé and Príncipe, your democratic finger print on the African continent is indelible.
“You have served and still serve as a beacon of democracy and a guardian of constitutionality.’’
Abubakar said Nigeria owes Obasanjo a debt that Nigerians could not pay.
He said that the former president led Nigeria to pay its foreign debts that the citizens could not imagine paying.
“By that singular action, you planted trees for generations yet unborn.
“You hold the enviable and esteemed record of being the first African military ruler to have voluntarily, and without internal and external pressure, restored power to the government democratically elected by the Nigerian people.
“It was Not Your Will to be in office, but it was your will to bequeath democracy to Nigeria. And after 21 years of the Fourth Republic, Nigeria has cause to celebrate your democratic credentials.
“Happy birthday President Obasanjo. You are beloved now and forever,‘’ said Abubakar.
