Obasanjo A Gift to Africa?

Senate presidents, David Mark; former Ghanaian president, John Kuffor and former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan were among eminent personalities that extolled the leadership qualities of former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Obasanjo

The trio spoke yesterday in Ogun at the grand civic reception organised by the South West zone of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to welcome the former president home after retiring as the Chairman of Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party.

Senate President David Mark

Kuffor, who in his keynote address, noted that very few heroes were honoured while still alive, described Chief Obasanjo as a living and outstanding legend who had contributed to the transformation of African economy and restoration of peace across the continent.

Describing Chief Obasanjo as a “gift to Africa” whose leadership qualities transcends Nigeria, Kuffor also stressed that the former Nigerian president had greatly contributed to the transformation and upliftment of less-privileged African countries.

John Kuffor of Ghana

In his remarks, Senate President, David Mark described Obasanjo as an outstanding Nigeria statesman whose record would be difficult to surpass. In his own remarks, former Heads of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Shonekan described Obasanjo as a man of integrity who stuck to the military agreement of handling over power peacefully to elected civilian in 1979.

He said Obasanjo, who started life from a humble beginning was passionately committed to the unity of Nigeria and that he had never physically or emotionally deviated from that course.

In his remarks, Chief Obasanjo who responded to all the encomiums showered on him by the eminent personalities attributed his accomplishments in life to “the grace of God”. Obasanjo said all his actions in life had been guided by three principles of whether he could defend his actions before people as well as whether such action benefits the majority of the people.