Mbang says Obasanjo is Nigeria’s ‘Best President’ since independence
…As ex-President praises Osoba on library
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From Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)
NIGERIA: THE retired Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Sunday Mbang, has described ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo as the best President to have ruled Nigeria since independence.
The declaration came at the time Obasanjo praised former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, on the roles he played in the establishment of his presidential library.
Mbang, who spoke last Sunday at a church service held at the Christ the Glorious King to round off the 80th birthday of Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said that no one had matched the performance of the ex-President among his fellow ex-rulers.
He maintained that Obasanjo had no equal as the best president Nigeria ever had, just as he added that successive governments were yet to equal or surpass his achievements while in office.
Mbang lambasted the attitude of current politicians to the nation’s socio-economic and political developments.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo – at the special service –read the first Bible lesson from Psalm 118 during which he also spoke about his journey of life till date.
Among eminent persons at the event are the Liberian President and Chairperson of ECOWAS, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Pastor Enoch Adeboye of RCCG, ex-Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, his Deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and Amosun’s predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Also in attendance are ex-University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, former Ogun State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Salimot Badru, former Secretary to the Ogun State Government and ex-Mines and Steel Minister, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola, Iyalode of Egbaland, Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson, Ogun State Information Commissioner, Dayo Adeneye, ex-PDP Governorship candidate, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka and Senator Gbenga Obadara.
Meanwhile, Obasanjo has disclosed that Osoba was the brain behind his decision to establish the presidential library.
He said at the commissioning of the library that for this, he would remain grateful to him.
Obasanjo stated that Osoba approved the large expanse of land for him at subsidized rate when he was the governor of the state.
According to him, the project would not have been possible if not for the roles played by the former Governor.
Also speaking on his experience in prison, Obasanjo said that the intervention of the former Military Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, saved him from being rotten in jail.
He said that he was jailed by the former military dictator, the late Gen. Sanni Abacha, over a phantom coup.
The ex-President explained that after spending three years in jail he regained freedom following the death of Abacha.
Obasanjo, who praised Abubakar, recalled that it was the human face gesture of the former military ruler that made it possible for him to regain freedom, adding that Abubakar administration also exonerated him of all the crime and sentence.
The exoneration, he added, gave him the opportunity to contest the 1999 presidential election.
He commended all those who contributed towards the realisation of the library project, while describing it as the fulfillment of the vision and mission he had in 1988 to collect vital materials of the civil war.
Obasanjo described the library as a centre of knowledge, which would also sustain culture and encourage tourism.
He expressed appreciation to the Board of Trustees and the management of the Library.
According to him, without the various roles played the library wouldn’t have become a reality.
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