President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken on the absence of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo at the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations.
We reported that Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, General Gowon, Babangida, among others were not present at the event.
Obasanjo, however, claimed that he was not invited for the national event.
However, in a statement to Newsmen on Wednesday by his Senior
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said
Obasanjo owes Nigerians explanation on why he did not attend the
programme.
He said, “The former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, owes an
answer to Nigerians on his absence from the 2019 Presidential
inauguration and Democracy Day celebration because the claim that he was
not invited or he did not receive an invitation cannot be sustained.
“Since the claim was first made, elements in the polity that have
deliberately and consistently been trying to lead the country toward
polarization have cashed in on it, throwing all manner of rubbish at the
Buhari Presidency.
“The fact remains that the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha wrote on May 16th, 2019 to:
‘His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Former President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Agbe L’Oba House, Quarry Road, Ibara,
P.O.Box 2286, Abeokuta, Ogun State.’
“The invitation was sent to Chief Obasanjo’s known forwarding
address, detailing out all the major events, and the invitation cards
were delivered by a reputable courier company as confirmed.
“The receipt of the letter and invitation cards as delivered by the
courier company was confirmed by Mr. Taiwo Ojo, the long-standing
Personal Secretary to the former President.
“If in the circumstance, Chief Obasanjo did not see or receive the
letter and invitation cards as published by Vanguard newspaper (Page 16,
June 16, 2019) and several other news platforms, then the former
President needs to find out what is happening with his own secretariat.
“The government office did its job diligently and should not be blemished for no reason.”