Dignitaries felicitate with Obasanjo on 80th birthday

Political associates, friends and family members joined former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday to celebrate his 80th birthday anniversary. Obasanjo who spoke at a thanksgiving service to round off the one-week birthday activity told a large assembly of eminent personalities from all walks of life that the journey had not been smooth throughout but he could confidently say that God had been too faithful to him.

He revealed that because of God’s abundant blessings upon him, one of his friends sometime ago asked him why God had been so kind to him as if he was the only one God created.

The roll call at the service, held at Chapel of Christ The Glorious King, a church built by Obasanjo, included, the Publisher of The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex Ibru; Executive Director of The Guardian, Mr. Toke Ibru; President of Liberia, Mrs. Ellen Sirleaf; former President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Ernest Sonekan, Joyce Banda of Malawi and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku.

Others were State Governors, Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Victor Ikpeazu (Abia). Former Governors, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Alao Akala (Oyo), Segun Oni (Ekiti) and Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun).

Senator Goodswill Akpabio, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi, Osiele of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Christopher Kolade, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, Andy Uba, former Minister of Mines and Steel, Sarafa Tunji Ishola and Gbenga Nasir Isiaka, former Ogun Governorship aspirant also graced the occassion.

In his sermon, the former Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Sunday Mbang, declared that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the best president Nigeria had ever had, insisting that no president had been able to match his achievements.

Mbang in the sermon, titled, “The quality of our gratitude to God,” commended Obasanjo for his numerous achievements in and outside government, saying the good deeds of Obasanjo would outlive him and urged leaders across the country to emulate his leadership qualities.

The cleric chided selfish politicians who he described as chameleons. Mbang also described Obasanjo as a unique and special gift to Nigeria by God. The National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Supo Ayokunle in his brief remark disclosed that the Christian community can never forget what Obasanjo did for them, saying “he gave us symbol of unity.”

He said Obasanjo and the former Head of State, late Muritala Muhammed in 1976 called all the Christians together to form the CAN. Obasanjo in his brief response, commended the guests.