OBJ@80: He’s a special gift from God to Nigerians —Sodeinde

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been described as a special gift, created by God to ensure peace, unity, stability, national growth and development.

Chief Olufemi Sodeinde, the Olori Igbimo of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, made this known in a statement issued to celebrate the 80th birthday anniversary of the former president.

According to him, after the sage and former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Obasanjo remained the reference point in national discourse.

“Undoubtedly, Chief Matthew Okikiola Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo is a special gift from God to Nigerians in our quest for national peace, unity, growth and development.

“Right from his days in the military and up to his ascendancy t the highest political office in the current democratic dispensation, and thereafter, the former president has demonstrated his genuine passion and love for a greater Nigeria.

“He has showed and he still showing an unequal desire to see a prosperous Nigerian nation where its people can live life in abundance in fulfilment of their lawful desires and goals.

“Obasanjo is a great nation-builder who has a genuine passion for a sustainable growth and development of the country and self-attainment of its people”, he said.

The Owu chief however acknowledged the frailties of the former president, pointing out that he (Obasanjo) was, after all, a human being susceptible to errors.

“That Obasanjo himself recently attributed the pervading national problems to the Nigerian leaders, living or dead, is an admittance of his own human failings.

“Above all, however, he is also a human being with the fear of God. He demonstrated this by tendering an unreserved apology to Nigerian for the collective national leadership failure”, he added.