₦airaland Forum

Maxymilliano: By SaharaReporters, New York

Acolytes of former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo, plan a two-day long birthday celebration for him despite not knowing his real date of birth. The group will hold a series of events on January 18 and 19, at his presidential library in Abeokuta in Ogun State.

As part of the event, former Ghana president John Kuffour will deliver a public lecture entitled,"Obasanjo in the eyes of history."the former president is also working hard to launch another international foundation to rival that of former US president Bill Clinton to revamp his badly battered international reputation after he failed in a bid to stand for third term in office in 2006.

President Goodluck Jonathan is recorded on the invitation card as the"guest of honor"in an event that is being viewed as a political gathering of Obasanjo loyalists, but sources close to Obasanjo said Jonathan has not responded to the invitation. Vice President Namadi Sambo has indicated he will attend.

Bankrolling the event include some state governors, such as Delta State governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Akwa Ibom governor, Godswill Akpabio, Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, and several others.

The former Nigerian leader had recently engaged in public spat against Mr. Jonathan over his plans to run for office again, publicly criticizing him for poor governance and incompetence.

The celebrations also come at a time Obasanjo’s reputation has taken considerable hammering. Following Ghana’s recent presidential election, he was roundly criticized and disowned by the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS), for which he had served as head of an election observer mission, for his anti-democracy activities.


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