Obasanjo, Tinubu, others eulogise president at book lunch
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari was told by his opponents that he would never see, enter and occupy the Aso Presidential Villa as the President of Nigeria.
Buhari ran for the highest position in the country for four consecutive times before defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 presidential election to occupy the seat. Burahi contested against President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.
In 2007, he lost to late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Gowon spoke yesterday at the public presentation of the president’s authorized biography written by Professor John Paden, an American author with special interest in the economic and political development of Nigeria.
The former head of state, who served as chairman of the event, also told the audience that Buhari deserved every commendation and criticism. According to him, the president is a fighter and a man of destiny working to get things right with the economy despite the huge challenges being faced by the country.
Also, Obasanjo yesterday joined other prominent Nigerians, including the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, at the gathering in Abuja where they singled out the qualities of President Muhammadu Buhari for eulogies.
Obasanjo, who said the book was a confirmation of the true person of President Buhari whom he knows about, explained that it is a must read for those who are interested in having full knowledge about Nigeria of yesterday and its leader of today.
“Though the book confirms what I know about Buhari, it does not reflect the definitive assessment of the president,” Obasanjo added. Tinubu, who also served as one of the book reviewers at the event, described Buhari as a man who has lived his life on assignments always intersected with vital moments in the nation’s history.
According to Tinubu, President Buhari in the present dispensation was still on assignment, showing that there was no other way for Nigeria to go but the way of democracy, no matter how difficult the path may be.
“Now, as sitting President, he is on an assignment, against time, to undo the wrongs of nearly two decades of bad governance,” the former Governor of Lagos State said.
Reviewing the book titled, “Muhammadu Buhari, the challenges of leadership in Nigeria”, Tinubu said the book captured the life of a man always in the public eye doing things in his differ- ent, disciplined and Spartan way. “From this compelling narrative, neatly demarcated into three parts and 24 chapters, the reader is able to glean the quintessential Buhari,” he added.
Tinubu also highlighted the aspect of the book, which vividly presented President Buhari as being slow, but steady with leadership. “Buhari as a young military head of state was in a hurry. However, now that he is older and given his experience, he is “slow but steady” in his approach to governance,” he stressed quoting from a few paragraphs.
The APC leader stressed that were it not for Buhari’s resilience and unwavering commitment, the merger among the opposition parties, which eventually ousted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, would not have been possible. Ambassador John Campbell, former US Ambassador to Nigeria, while reviewing the book, admitted that America had not shown enough interest in Nigeria.
He called on the government of the United States of America to pay more attention in terms of investment and support for Nigeria to come out of its current recession. Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Nigerian Representatives to the United Nations, in his comment on the book, said the major challenge at the moment for the government was the expectation from Nigerians about change and its accompanying promises.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, who also reviewed the book, said despite losing in the courts for three consecutive times after his petitions to upturn elections were thrown out, Buhari did not give up and continued in the fight.
Author of the book, Prof. Paden, in his remark, explained that the biography seeks to answer the question of who is Buhari and how he is moving in addressing Nigeria’s challenges. Paden noted that the biography, which is work in progress, was tailored towards introducing President Buhari to the international community while addressing the challenges of leadership, which include national unity and security, corruption and independence of judiciary, especially during tension.
Organisers of the lunching ceremony had discouraged dignitaries from making donations for the book, but advised for bulk purchases. Buhari, in his remark, thanked the author of the book and guests who attended the public presentation.
Among dignitaries at the event were the Presidents of Niger, Benin and Equatorial Guinea. Others who attended were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, former Vice President Namadi Sambo; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and traditional rulers.
Most governors, including those of Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara, Delta, Imo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Niger and Cross River attended the event. Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was conspicuously absent at the presentation, said he received invitation to the programme late.
Atiku, in a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, explained that he only received invitation to the book launch on Monday (yesterday) afternoon while the programme had kicked off.
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