Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday applauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s support in securing Dr Akinwunmi Adesina re-election as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
This is coming in less than 72 hours after Obasanjo in a scathing address, slammed Buhari’s government, saying the country “is fast drifting into a failed and badly divided state.”
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However, the former President while speaking on Adesina’s re-election, said Buhari and other African leaders deserved commendation for their role which earned the former Minister of Agriculture second term in office.
He spoke on Monday when the leadership of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), led by the National President, Desmond Nwachukwu paid him a courtesy call at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Pent House residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
Obasanjo, in what appeared to be his first official reaction, since Adesina’s re-election, also thanked some past and present African leaders for their supports during the period.
Obasanjo recalled how he alongside 14 former African leaders rose in Adesina’s defence when the United States rejected a probe panel report which cleared him of all allegations of wrongdoing during his first term in office.
“I must commend the Federal government for the support given to him (Adesina) to get this second term ticket. You know that the former President, Goodluck Jonathan recommended him before this new government came on board. The government could have rejected him. So, I must commend the President for supporting him all through,” he said.
The former President noted apart the support Adesina received from African leaders, his sound education background played a vital role in the success so far made by the AfDB President.
While harping on the importance of education, the former President submitted that no magic would have earned Adesina such an elevated position without having a sound education.
He disclosed that about 14million Nigerian children are out of school, urging the government to as a matter of urgency redouble its efforts towards educating the younger generation for them to make meaningful contribution to the development of the country.
In his remarks, the FIBAN President applauded Obasanjo’s passion for grooming talents and young minds in Africa.
Nwachukwu also hinted that the proposed School of Broadcasting in Abeokuta, will be name after the former President.
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