President Buhari congratulates Obasanjo at 79

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday congratulated former President
Olusegun Obasanjo who turns 79 on Saturday.

Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Femi Adesina, affirmed 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.

The President believed that 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.

He also commended the ex-president's vision and commitment to the
growth of Nigeria and Africa, which translated into a historical
growth rate of six percent for the Nigerian economy after a long
period of slow growth, and also created a rippling effect that buoyed
other African economies.

Obasanjo's regular shuttles across Nigeria and Africa to counsel on
economic, social and political issues, and his willingness to head
election monitoring teams that have heralded smooth transitions in
many countries, Buhari noted are legacies for which generations will
remain grateful.