Yesterday former president Olusegun Obasanjo turned 81 and ironically, there was no happy birthday message sent out from President Buhari’s office to congratulate him.
The custom in the presidency has been that the incumbent president releases a statement felicitating with former heads of state and some top Nigerian dignitaries on their birthday anniversaries. Last year, President Buhari while on his sick bed, called ex-president Obasanjo to wish him a happy 80th birthday.
There are speculations online that the ”shelving” of the birthday message may be connected with the explosive letter the Obasanjo had written to President Buhari calling for his resignation.
Some Nigerians even noted this ommission from the presidency. See a comment made by a Nigerian man on Facebook below;
It may be recalled that while speaking at the celebration of his 81st birthday in Abeokuta disclosed what he considers to be the major regret in his life.
According to PREMIUM Times, elder statesman stated that the early death of his parents and their failure to enjoy the fruits of the sacrifice they made while raising him continues to make him sad.
Obasanjo said he wished his parents lived long to witness his success in life.
“One thing I always miss and remember is that my parents left this world too early. The sacrifice they made, they did not wait to see the results. How I wish they had waited to see and eat fruits of their labour.
”Obasanjo said he draws consolation from the Yoruba belief that the dead always look behind to see happenings after them on earth, and with that belief, he said he was sure his late parents would still be happy in their graves even now.
“But going by what Yoruba believe and say, that the dead always watch over their beloved ones and see happenings around them, I am convinced that my parents are happy in their graves, as they watch over me,” he said.
On his birthday, Obasanjo said he would continue to appreciate, praise adore and worship God, just as he admitted that all those who worked and are still working with him are loyal.
The former President also extended some words of appreciation to his aides and workers, saying without them, he wouldn’t have been able to achieve all he has accomplished in life.
He advised people to serve humanity, noting that it is when humanity is serve that one can serve God, adding that he did not believe that God has created a bad situation for Nigeria, or in any particularly country in Africa.
“We must be able to serve humanity, if we can’t serve humanity, we can’t serve God. I do not believe God had created bad situation for Nigeria, or any particular country in Africa. If things are not going right, we must blame ourselves,” he said