Nigeria will attain enviable status if we play our roles well, says Obasanjo

Tinubu, Mbah, Abiodun hail ex-President at 88
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has tasked Nigerians, particularly the youths, to play their roles towards ensuring that Nigeria as a country attains an enviable status in the comity of nations.

He also urged Nigerians who are yet to attain the age of 80 years to brace up for the obligations of nation-building, stressing that “if we do it well, we will have an enviable country in our lifetime.”

Obasanjo, who spoke while responding to series of encomiums showered on his personality by well-wishers during his 88th birthday celebration held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, reiterated the optimism that the country would attain an enviable status that all the citizens would be proud of during his lifetime irrespective of how bad the situation could be.

The former President, however, unveiled two books: “Lest we forget: Slavery, Slave Trade, Emancipation and Reparation” and “Nigeria: Past and the Future,” authored by himself, which he presented to the public as part of the landmark activities marking his birthday celebration.

Earlier in the public lecture titled: “Echoes of The Past, Vision of the Future: Reflection on Slavery and Colonisation and Nigeria’s Journey Towards A Promising Future,” the Guest Lecturer and Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, reflected on where we were as a country; where we are and where we should be after colonisation as a nation.

Osaghae, however, demanded a new and united set of leaders that would form the new power block for good governance and also stop wallowing in the past among other demands.

In his response to the birthday lecture, Obasanjo said the essence of Osaghae’s message is for all Nigerians to see “where we have all gone wrong without any exception.”

MEANWHILE, President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, paid a glowing tribute to Obasanjo who turned 88 years old.

Tinubu, in the tribute he personally signed and made available to journalists, said: “I pay a special tribute to an extraordinary leader and statesman who has made enormous contributions to Nigeria’s development and whose life for the past six decades is woven deeply into the fabric of Nigeria’s history.”

ALSO, Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, congratulated Obassanjo on his 88th birthday, describing him as not only a consummate nationalist but also Nigeria’s gift to the world.

In his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, yesterday, Mbah said: “It is a great honour for me to felicitate former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on his 88th birthday.”

OGUN State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an advocate for peace, security, and development, adding that the legacies of the former president extend beyond Nigeria and Africa.

Abiodun noted that the contributions of President Obasanjo to the enthronement of democracy in the country remain a landmark achievement, which he said was made possible due to his commitment to democracy and national unity, even as he described the celebrant as an architect of modern Nigeria.

“History will continue to be kind to you because the story of Nigeria and your story are closely and intimately intertwined, and the name Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo will remain indelibly entrenched in the minds of so many generations to come.

“Beyond your successful career in the military, you’ve continued to demonstrate that you are a true patriot, a leader who is irrevocably devoted to the advancement of Nigeria.

“Your role, particularly in being instrumental to the first civilian-to-civilian transition, remains a landmark achievement; one that underscores the commitment to democracy, governance, and national unity.

“Your resilience, your vision, and your relentless pursuit of excellence continue to showcase you as a statesman, an advocate for peace, security, and development. Your legacy, without a doubt, extends beyond Nigeria and Africa,” he said.