Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated
that he is thankful to God that he and President
Muhammadu Buhari did not settle their
differences by “looking at each other through the
barrels of guns”.
Obasanjo was speaking in Abuja on Monday
during the launch of ‘Muhammadu Buhari, the
Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria’, a book
authored by John Paden, a professor.
Obasanjo, who described Buhari as an upright
man,recalled an encounter he had with Buhari,
when the incumbent president served under him
as a commissioner.
“President Buhari and I have had many
encounters, but most of them in parallel. Not too
long ago, we had a direct opposition at the ballot
box. But even then, it did not affect our
relationship,” he said.
“And fortunately, we didn’t have to look at each
other through the barrels of our guns. I thank God
for that.
“On one occasion when President Buhari was a
commissioner for petroleum, he went for an OPEC
meeting in Saudi Arabia, and each leader of a
country was given a special gold coin.>
“President Buhari, then an army officer, came
back to show his superior the gold medal which
was very expensive, and said: ‘This I was given, if
I give you, promise me that you won’t give it to
somebody else.’
“And that came about because one of his
colleagues bought me a hand-made shoe, and
after I discovered that it was too luxurious, I gave
it to my ADC.
“I believe President Buhari heard about that story,
and he wanted to make sure that I didn’t give out
the gold coin… But don’t ask me where the coin
is today.”
The audience, which paid rapt attention to the
elder statesman, erupted in laughter.
When it was time for him to give his vote of
thanks, Buhari identified the officer whom
Obasanjo spoke of as “the late Joe Garuba”.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated
that he is thankful to God that he and President
Muhammadu Buhari did not settle their
differences by “looking at each other through the
barrels of guns”.
Obasanjo was speaking in Abuja on Monday
during the launch of ‘Muhammadu Buhari, the
Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria’, a book
authored by John Paden, a professor.
Obasanjo, who described Buhari as an upright
man,recalled an encounter he had with Buhari,
when the incumbent president served under him
as a commissioner.
“President Buhari and I have had many
encounters, but most of them in parallel. Not too
long ago, we had a direct opposition at the ballot
box. But even then, it did not affect our
relationship,” he said.
“And fortunately, we didn’t have to look at each
other through the barrels of our guns. I thank God
for that.
“On one occasion when President Buhari was a
commissioner for petroleum, he went for an OPEC
meeting in Saudi Arabia, and each leader of a
country was given a special gold coin.>
“President Buhari, then an army officer, came
back to show his superior the gold medal which
was very expensive, and said: ‘This I was given, if
I give you, promise me that you won’t give it to
somebody else.’
“And that came about because one of his
colleagues bought me a hand-made shoe, and
after I discovered that it was too luxurious, I gave
it to my ADC.
“I believe President Buhari heard about that story,
and he wanted to make sure that I didn’t give out
the gold coin… But don’t ask me where the coin
is today.”
The audience, which paid rapt attention to the
elder statesman, erupted in laughter.
When it was time for him to give his vote of
thanks, Buhari identified the officer whom
Obasanjo spoke of as “the late Joe Garuba”.
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