The national leader of All Progress Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has called for the re-introduction of history in the curriculum of secondary schools stating that “a nation that forgets it’s past forgets everything”.
He made the call at the launch of the book “Muhammadu Buhari, the Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria” by Professor John Paden, a chronicle of the struggles and career of the President until May 29, 2016.
At the event, Tinubu was sighted sitting beside the national Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, who he had about a week ago accused of carrying out a coup that undermined the principles of the party.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was conspicuously absent from the launch.
Tinubu who was one of the four reviewers of the book, describing Buhari as a man on an assignment to fix the wrongs done by nearly two decades of bad governance adding the format of the APC was also a sacrifice made for national salvation.
“The formation of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is an important event that the book addresses. The merger was the result of teamwork, belief in the democratic will of the people and a commitment to national purpose.
“Many of us invested ourselves, our heart, body, mind and soul in this project for national salvation. Many did not want it to happen and fought to undermine the good we sought to accomplish. Many others straddled the sidelines, neither completely in nor completely out, but waiting to see how the prevailing winds might blow before making their move.
“Muhammadu Buhari never wavered for one moment on this journey. Proving to be a focused leadership, he acted with a single-minded determination that showed no fear or doubt in the rightfulness of the cause we pursued. I know this for an unassailable fact because I was there with him, every step of the way, to fight against, what the realists told us, were in-surmountable odds.
“He was on national assignment when he became military head of state in a well-intentioned effort to straighten things out and set Nigeria on a better path. When he ventured into politics and competed for the Presidency, culminating in his 2015 election victory, he was still on assignment, showing that there was no other way for this nation to go but the way of democracy, no matter how difficult the path may be.
“Now, as sitting President, he is on an assignment, against time, to undo the wrongs of nearly two decades of bad governance,” he said.
Chairman of the occasion, former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, said Buhari described Buhari as a fighter and a man of destiny.
“As a combat politician, he fought to take over villa despite being told he will never see it”, adding that he has been doing his best to get things go and the suffering of the people alleviated.
In his remarks the Special Guest of Honour, Olusegun Obasanjo, described him as an upright man adding that the book was for those who needed to know about the man Buhari.
He urged Nigerians to read the book for the right reason which is progress, unity and wholesomeness of Nigeria.
Former US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, who also reviewed, the book described as a mistake, America not showing enough interest in Nigeria, not giving the country the attention it deserves as the giant
of Africa, urging it not to repeat the same mistake.
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, also one of the book reviewer, spoke about Buhari’s first tenure as military head of state, corrected some false impressions that he was a religious and ethnic bigot and an autocrat.
Gambari said a major challenge is the expectation of change by the populace. He urged Buhari to engage NGOs and non-state actors in the corruption and change mantra, advising him to practice politics of
inclusion to ensure peace. Paden in his remarks said the book was an attempt to introduce Buhari to international audience, since Nigerians already know their President.
He also wanted to use the book to address issue of leadership and challenges therein, like national unity and security, corruption and economic melt down.
He also talked about how the independence of the judiciary was crucial to nation building. The event also featured a documentary on President Buhari, titled “Leading from the Front”, showed his military career and political life.
The event was witnessed by presidents of Chad, Idriss Deby, Niger Mahamadou Issoufou and Benin Republic, Patrice Talon and representatives of the president’s of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
Others include wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and wife, Dolapo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and his wife Toyin, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and wife, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, service chiefs, members of federal executive council, lawmakers, governors, members of organised private sector, members of the diplomatic corps as well as royal fathers.
Meanwhile, the Media Adviser to former Vice Preside Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe explained that he was absent from the event following a breach.
“For inexplicable reason the former Vice President only received his invitation today (Monday) after the event had started. “The former Vice President returned to Abuja on Sunday night, 2nd October. The invitation letter signed 30th September, 2016, the last working day of the week was handed over to Atiku Abubakar Monday, after the programme had commenced.
“As a former Vice President well-schooled in the demands of protocol, it would have been inappropriate of the Turakin Adamawa to storm into the event while Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-chief was already seated with other dignitaries including visiting Heads of Government to the occasion” the statement read.
