President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo as the elder statesman marked his 89th birthday, reflecting on a life shaped by war, power, prison and enduring influence in Nigeria’s political history.
In a message released on Wednesday, Tinubu celebrated Obasanjo’s towering role in Nigeria and across Africa, describing him as a statesman whose journey through the nation’s most turbulent chapters continues to shape public discourse decades after leaving office.
The presidency said Obasanjo’s life story carries the marks of extraordinary sacrifice and leadership, from commanding troops during Nigeria’s civil war to later presiding over the country as both a military head of state and democratically elected president.
Tinubu recalled that Obasanjo first assumed national leadership as military Head of State between 1976 and 1979, a period that ended with a historic transition to civilian rule when he handed power to an elected government.
Two decades later, he returned to power through the ballot, becoming Nigeria’s first civilian president in the Fourth Republic and leading the country from 1999 to 2007.
But the president’s tribute suggested that Obasanjo’s political journey has never been defined solely by office.Tinubu pointed to moments that tested the former leader’s resolve, including his time in prison after openly criticising military rule, as well as his persistent advocacy for Africa’s political and economic progress on the global stage.
According to the president, the former leader’s continued engagement with national issues, through books, public commentary and diplomatic interventions, reflects a deep commitment to Nigeria’s development long after leaving the corridors of power.
As Obasanjo turned 89, Tinubu prayed for continued strength, wisdom and good health for the elder statesman, expressing hope that his voice would remain active in shaping Nigeria’s future.
