The Northern States Governors Forum has paid tribute to former President Olusegun Obasanjo who clocked 76 on Tuesday.
The governors said that the former Nigerian leader has lived a life of service to Nigeria and humanity.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Aliyu, said Mr. Obasanjo remains the reference point for good governance, statesmanship, diplomacy, conflict resolution and prudent management of resources.
In a statement, the Northern governors said Nigeria is lucky to have former President Obasanjo at every turn in the march to nationhood.
The forum recalled that Mr. Obasanjo had a distinguished carrier in the military and then went on to become Head of State and later democratically elected president, during which period he showed rare vision, courage and exemplary leadership.
“It is no longer news that in 1976, destiny beckoned on General Obasanjo to become Nigeria’s Head of State; an era that ushered in huge developmental drive in our journey to nationhood and in the exercise of greatness, he voluntarily relinquished power and handed it over to a civilian administration in 1979.He returned to the presidency in 1999 from the verge of death to the flourishing tree of democracy he planted, this time as the gardener and the nourisher,” the governor’s said in the statement.
The governors poured more encomiums on Mr. Obasanjo saying he left legacies in all sectors of the economy.
They said they are proud to be associated with the achievements of the former leader, especially his contribution to the deepening of the nation’s fledgling democracy.
The governors prayed that God grant Mr. Obasanjo excellent health, courage and many more years of selfless service to Nigeria and humanity.
