Posted on: 02:50 Fri, 04 Mar 2016



If I hear say Obasanjo na 79…lol.
President Buhari has heartily
congratulated former President of
Nigeria and elder statesman, Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo as he turns 79
years old tomorrow March 5th.

In a statement signed by the Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity,
Femi Adesina, Buhari affirms that
the former president, who is
approaching the octogenarian
cycle, has contributed immensely to
the institutionalization of
democracy in Nigeria and Africa
through his personal sacrifice,
extensive local and international
networks, and God-given wisdom.

The statement reads in part…
“President Buhari believes that
Chief Obasanjo’s place in global
history is assured for successfully
handing over power to a civilian
government in 1979 after serving
as a military Head of State, and
returning to power in 1999 through
elections to stabilize the polity,
during which he most remarkably
negotiated a debt relief for Nigeria.

The President warmly commends
Chief Obasanjo’s vision and
commitment to the growth of
Nigeria and Africa, which
translated into a historical growth
rate of 6 percent for the Nigerian
economy after a long period of
slow growth, and also created a
rippling effect that buoyed other
African economies.

As he turns 79, the President avers
that the former president’s regular
shuttles across Nigeria and Africa
to counsel on economic, social and
political issues, and his willingness
to head election monitoring teams
that have heralded smooth
transitions in many countries are
legacies which generations will
remain grateful.

President Buhari prays that the
Almighty God will grant the
Balogun of the Owu lineage, who is
also the Ekerin Balogun of the Egba
clan, long life and strength to
continue his service to humanity.”.