Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Thank God me and Buhari never settle our differences with guns – Obasanjo

A former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday stated that he enjoys a cordial relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, despite their differences.

Speaking in Abuja during the presentation/launch of a book, “Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria” authored by a professor of International Studies, John Paden, the former president thanked God that he and Buhari did not have to settle their differences by “looking at each other through the barrels of guns.”

Recalling an encounter he had with Buhari when he served under him as a commissioner, Obasanjo described the incumbent President as an upright man.

 

According to Obasanjo, “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.

“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.”

 

Earlier at the event, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, had disclosed how the party selected Prof Yemi Osinbajo  as running mate to Buhari at the 2015 presidential election.

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