Jonathan Felicitates With Obasanjo At 76

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on his 76th birthday. This was even as he said that the country was indebted to him for his contributions in ensuring peace, stability, growth and development of Nigeria.In a statement by Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati Jonathan said, “On behalf of my family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and on my own behalf, I write to express warm felicitations to you on the occasion of your 76th birthday anniversary.

“Over the years, you have always readily given of yourself to the cause of peace, stability, growth, and development of our country, Nigeria. For this, we owe you an enduring debt of gratitude.

“As you celebrate with family, friends and well-wishers, I pray that Almighty God continues to guide, guard, and prosper you, even as He blesses you with many more years of robust health and abiding fulfilment.”

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mike Ogiadomen, Corporate business moguls, represented by Oil and Gas magnate, Femi Otedola, Jim Ovia of the Zenith Bank and Visafone, Technocrats, academia, members of the diplomatic corps as well as the art community and traditional institutions, yesterday, described Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as a strong builder of modern Nigeria that deserves honour.

Responding to a toast, remarks and speeches after three and a half-hour programmes at the public launch of “Olusegun Obasanjo- the Presidential Legacy-1999-2003,” at the Olusegun Obasanjo

Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, the celebrant said opponents of either his person or project had walked up to apologise to him twice in the past.

He banked on history therefore to say that he would continue to triumph despite all odds at the launch of the book co-edited by Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Oladipo Akinkugbe and Ahmed Joda and written by former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku and one hundred and ninety-nine other Scholars.

He also vowed to use the last drop of his blood to preserve the unity and progress of Nigeria, first and foremost and Africa and the world in general.

Anyaoku, as chairman of the launch, said he was obliged to write on the Obasanjo years from the perspective of foreign policy, “because I was there when he was an actor on the global platform,” recalling how he chaired the 70th birthday of Obasanjo in Abeokuta six years ago.

The former Secretary-General regaled the audience with scriptural knowledge by quoting from the Books that God allowed man to live 120 years, therefore pontificating that he would be available to chair the 80 birthday of Obasanjo.

Anyaoku, who was quick to add that he would be 84 when Obasanjo would be 80 quoted Genesis 6:3 to support his wish to be 120.

In a toast to the celebrant, Former Judge at the World Court in the Hague, Bola Ajibola, said the image of Obasanjo he saw when the latter came to him to say he was going to the army was that of someone on a suicide mission and “I took pity on him,” recalling also how the Ota farmer was a flagship at the Baptist Boys High School, by virtue of being the Librarian.

Ajibola’s toast was corroborated by the Olubara of Ibara, Jacob Omolade another classmate of Obasanjo, who hinted once again “poverty bound us together even though we were mates and friends.”