OBJ Southwest-Kinsmen Showcase Him As The Unbeatable Leader Of PDP In A Grand Reception In His Honour

It is still some six weeks away to the 76th birthday of Nigeria’s former leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, but encomiums continued to pour his way for the second day in his home town of Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.

Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Chairman of the PDP, Tukur, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, his wife Bola, former Ghananain President, John Kufuor joining hands to cut a special cake

It was the second day of the reception party organised by the Ogun state chapter of the nationally ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
Today, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan took his turn to pay glowing tributes to the man who positioned him as vice-president to assume the mantle of the leadership of Nigeria, after the demise of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010.
Jonathan though unavoidably absent, being in Abidjan for the emergency meeting of West African leaders over the war in Mali, sent his vice-president, Namadi Sambo, to deliver his eulogy at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta, the venue of the grand reception.


Jonathan described the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as a great leader who has laid a solid foundation on which the country is building now.
Jonathan also maintained that Obasanjo remains a national leader whose pivotal roles in the history of Nigeria can never be easily forgotten.
According to Jonathan: “In 1999, Baba laid a solid foundation for the development of our dear nation. We must not forget the pivotal role Obasanjo played in the history of our nation. Baba as a leader of our party participated in the drawing of manifestos of PDP which we are still using till today. I want to assure you that we will continue to implement the fantastic programme and it shall transform Nigeria as one of the most developed countries in the world”.
“I am pleased to inform you that we have already recorded success in the area of power supply. It is a known fact all over the country today that there is improvement in power, this is as a result of improvement that we are making. I am pleased to inform you that not far from here, at Olorunsogo, we have successfully completed Olorunsogo power plant, and that power plant is already injecting 500mw to our national grid, we have completed everything about it, the gas pipeline, the gas treatment plant, this we have been achieved as a result of support we receive from you”, Jonathan recounted.”

John Kufour, Tukur, Sambo , Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice President, Nemadi Sambo,

Sambo reported that Jonathan has taken a necessary step to ensure that Lagos/Ibadan expressway is completed and expanded.
“That road was built by Baba and to International standard. This administration has resolved to bring back the road as it were and even better”, Sambo said.
The Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has sought the assistance of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in filling the vacuum left after resigning as the Chairman of the board.
The appeal was made by the Secretary of the BoT, Senator Waliu Jubril while giving his goodwill message during the grand finale of the reception.
He said, “Obasanjo is a true Nigerian. I enjoyed working with him as the Secretary of the BoT, he is a detribalised Nigerian who every Nigerian should love. The people of the Southwest should not see him as their own alone, he is not for you alone but for all of us. That is why we are all here from North, East, West and South to gather at the historic town of Abeokuta to celebrate with Baba.
The National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who is also the Chairman of the event described Obasanjo as a living legend of Africa and a man who personifies the story of a committed statesman.
Tukur also described Obasanjo as a symbol of hope, legacy and pragmatic leadership when all hope has lost.
He asked Nigerians to make the PDP a rallying point and unity for the country saying the party has begun a major surgical operation to put it on sound footing .
“President Obasanjo personifies the history of a committed Africa statesman, though, some call him OBJ while others call him the General or Mr President. I want to call him the living legend of Africa. As we are celebrating the living legend of Africa therefore, I want to say without fear or favour that I am proud to be associated with the colossus who serves as symbol of hope at the time most Nigerians have lost hope”, Tukur revealed.
In his own speech, the governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha identified the bad politics of some politicians and political parties as a major set back to the progress of the country.
Okorocha lamented that unhealthy rivalry between and within political parties in the country has slow down the development of the country, suggesting that political parties should only be seen as a vehicle to deliver good governance rather than playing politics with the development of the country.
According to Okorocha, who was a former adviser to Obasanjo: “We are here to celebrate unmovable, unshakeable Obasanjo. Baba is very difficult to describe. To many people, he represents many things,but to me, I will call him my colleagues because we contested the Presidency together. I lost to him and he made me his adviser,all the good thing he did while in office, I advised him but the bad things he did was done after I had traveled out of the country.
While thanking those that have come from far and near to celebrate with him, the former President who is the Ekerin of Egbaland and Balogun of Owu Kingdom charged all leaders to see the welfare of the citizenry as topmost in their minds, saying that is the only thing that can gladden his heart
“For me nothing can gladden my heart better than when a government in this country, whether at the local, state or national levels takes good care of the people. I feel touched and thank you all. Even at doing what is right for the people, visionary leaders must be steadfast and focussed. What you have said to us today is that the federal government is doing what they are supposed to have done some years back, it is better late than never” Baba stated.
Obasanjo continued: “What is happening here today is unique because normally we don’t seem to celebrate our leaders until after their death. For me to be here with you and get such accolades and praises, I thank God and I thank you all.
Obasanjo further charged the party National Chairman to be more committed, show integrity and be transparent, boasting that these factors will spur him to success,”my prayer to you is that in your own interest and our party interest, you will sail through”.
Some of the dignataries present at the occasion include governors from Imo, Akwa Ibom and Delta states, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Godswill Akpabio and Emmanuel Uduaghan. Others are the deputy governor of Rivers state, Engr. Telle Ikuhoro, the sacked National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihediora, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs, serving Senators and member of House of
Reps., Senator Florence Ita- Giwa, Sen.Andy Uba, Traditional rulers, captains of industries, party stalwarts, and PDP members from the 20 local government councils of Ogun state who wore an ankara uniform to celebrate the occasion