President Muhammadu Buhari has said that generations of many African countries would be grateful to the former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for his wise counsels on economic, social and political issues.
He said that Obasanjo’s willingness to embark on elections monitoring has brought about peaceful transitions in a lot of African countries.
President Buhari made the remarks to mark the 79th birthday of the former president.
Speaking through a statement by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, president Buhari congratulated Obasanjo who he also referred to as an elder statesman, praying God to grant him long life and strength to continue in the service of humanity.
The statement read thus: “President Muhammadu Buhari heartily congratulates former President of Nigeria and elder statesman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), as he turns 79 years old on March 5, 2016.
“The President affirms that the former president, who is approaching the octogenarian cycle, has contributed immensely to the institutionalization of democracy in Nigeria and Africa through his personal sacrifice, extensive local and international networks, and God-given wisdom.
“President Buhari believes that Chief Obasanjo’s place in global history is assured for successfully handing over power to a civilian government in 1979 after serving as a military Head of State, and returning to power in 1999 through elections to stabilize the polity, during which he most remarkably negotiated a debt relief for Nigeria.
