THE Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, described Obasanjo as a world statesman and an authentic African icon.
Osinbajo hinted that not many people have the opportunity of making history and writing it in life as done by Obasanjo, who had the rare opportunity of administering the country, as a military Head of State and two time democratically elected president.
This remark was made at the grand opening of the multibillion naira Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, on Saturday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
He noted that experience is only the best teacher for a fool, while history is a compassionate teacher.
Osinbajo said that library would be a resource centre where younger generations would not only to learn from what they see and hear, but what is unsaid.
The acting president submitted that Obasanjo had is place in the political history of Nigeria at every crucial moment.
He said further, “Very few human beings have a chance of making history and fewer still have a good fortune history and writing it. Baba Olusegun Obasanjo is certainly one of those rare human beings.
“There are at least two advantages to writing history. The most serious advantage is that, it is one sure way of preserving the lessons, the failures and the successes of the past and we can approach the future with more sure-footedness and less pains.
“History is the most compassionate teacher. At some point in time, we were told in an adage that experience is the best teacher, but now, we know it is only half of a well wise saying.
“The full statement of that adage is that experience is the best teacher for a fool. A wise man doesn’t need the pain of experience; history is a kinder and a more compassionate teacher.
“President Olusegun Obasanjo is therefore a gift in various ways. His destiny is intricately tied to the history of Nigeria from independence to civil war, becoming the Head of State, handing over to civil rule and being twice elected as President of Nigeria and then handed over to another President.
“His enduring legacy will be his believe in one strong, detribalised Nigeria and this is so evidence in the gatherings of Nigerians here today. He also believe in words and in practice that Africa united in vision and thoughts again, that Pan-Africanist vision is evident in the large gathering of African serving and former heads of governments here present.
“But we diminish his vision if we do not recognise his place as a world-statesman even that is evident from the representatives of the world that are present here today.
“I am privilege to be here to celebrate in this Library someone who has given and continuing giving, an authentic African icon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.”
The chairperson, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ellen Johnson -Sirleaf, who chaired the occasion, said the establishment of the Presidential Library by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, as become a precedence that must be emulated by African leaders.
Sirleaf recalled that the first Presidential Library was dedicated by the 22nd President Franklin Roosevelt of the United States of America in 1941, and commended Obasanjo for the initiative in establishing the first presidential library in Africa.
She said that such libraries would avail the governments to preserve records of their past for future generation.
“History will bear truth to this precedence setting occasion in Africa. This will be a long legacy for successful retiring presidents to record and preserve the history of nation building for prosperity and for the benefit of today and future generations.
“For example, many may recall that it was President Franklin Roosevelt, the 22nd President of the USA in 1941 dedicated the first Presidential Library in America.
“You (Obasanjo) are inspired by the examples of President Jimmy Carter with whom you share the vision of preserving the record of the past for future purposes.
“We take pride that this is our own history, made and record and also presented to us through this structure.
“A nation must believe in three things: the past, future and in the capacity of the people.”
Obasanjo in welcome address said the establishment of library was a culmination and fulfillment of ambition which started in 1988.
He said that he embarked on the project in which he was not such of its end.
Obasanjo appreciated all those who contributed immensely in making the project a reality.
The event was attended by former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, former president of Ghana, Mr John Kuffor, former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former president Goodluck Jonathan, the governor of Lagos and host state, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Others are former governors of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Chief Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, former governor of Jigawa, Mallam Sule Lamido former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke and former governor of Osun State, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Business moguls, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, the chairman of the United Bank for Africa, Mr Tony Elumelu, ministers of Solid Mineral Development, Finance and Transportation and Information and Culture, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Hon Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Mr Segun Awolowo, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
The OOPL project was conceived as a centre that is aimed at preserving the past, capturing the present, inspiring the future and promoting tourism.
Tribune Online recalled that the ground breaking of the library ceremony was in 2005.
Facilities within the library complex include a museum, a wildlife park,senior citizen centre, Youth Development Centre, Green Legacy Resort, Senior Citizens Centre among others.
The Presidential Library is the first of its kind outside of the United States.