Former presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has knocked former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a birthday tribute to the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari who clocks 82 today.

Shehu slammed Obasanjo for his constant criticism of his successors and seeking their removal from office.

On the other hand, he reminded Nigerians that Buhari has kept to his promise that from May 29, 2023, he would be as far away from the nation’s capital, Abuja, so as not to cast a shadow over the new administration, to give the space to them to effectively take off and stabilise without distractions.

“Being willing to renounce power is his extraordinarily admirable trait,” Shehu said, adding that Buhari has only visited Abuja twice for important occasions since leaving office.

Highlighting the cooperation that goes on between current and former presidents, Shehu hailed General Yakubu Gowon, the oldest surviving former leader, saying he’s the most helpful of all of the nation’s past rulers.

“On the other hand, since leaving office, first as a military leader and subsequently as elected president after two terms, President Olusegun Obasanjo has called and written on every head of state after him to put him to shame or disgrace, and in some cases outrightly asking for his resignation or ouster in the next election. General Abacha alleged that Obasanjo had a hand in a coup plot against him and had him imprisoned,” he said.

He said Buhari is sympathetic to President Bola Tinubu in his challenging job of reforming the economy, and all the other leaders in expectations management of citizens, much of which is difficult- if not impossible- to meet.