President Muhammadu Buhari said his deep rooted respect for former President Olusegun Obasanjo made it difficult for him to react to his letter chronicling his alleged failures and his decision not to back him for his 2019 re-election bid.
This is just as the President declared on Friday in Abuja that the unity of Nigeria is paramount to him
President Buhari, in what appears to be first official public acknowledgement of former President Obasanjo’s letter on Thursday night at a State banquet in his honour in Bauchi state, advanced reasons why he decided to ignore the letter
The President said he did not only resist temptations to react but also vehemently resisted attempts by his aides as well as the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed to make a response.
Buhari said he was however, forced to cave into pressure mounted by the Minister of Information to make a veiled response
“Tonight, I want to remind the people of what Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information did against my wish, in the sense that when the letter was written containing our failures as an administration, Lai Mohammed agitated that he should reply and I said no.
“I said no for two reasons: He is much younger than the person who wrote the letter and myself; two, he is from the same constituency as the person who wrote the letter.
“But when Lai Mohammed came, I said he should go out but he said he won’t go. I asked why and he said let me give him a chance to say what he wanted to do. I said go on.
“He said in what he would do, he would not mention names but only try to remind Nigerians what the country was when we came in, where we are now, and what we have achieved.”
But the President while also speaking on Friday in Abuja reassured Nigerians that the unity of the country will remain his paramount objective and that of his government.
He stated this when he received a delegation of the Tijjaniya Movement led by Sheikh Muhammadu Mahi Ibrahim Inyass at the Presidential Villa, the President said, ‘‘I will continue to do everything within my powers to unite Nigeria.’’
The President commended the religious group for the peaceful conduct of their annual convention and urged them to bring the same to bear in promoting peace, unity and inter-religious harmony in Nigeria.
President Buhari also lauded the group for complementing government efforts in bringing social, economic development, and stability in the country by encouraging discipline, unity and spirituality among its members.
Reiterating his remarks on Thursday at the palace of Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, after he was presented with the Holy Quran, the President said the gift of Holy Quran is the highest anyone can receive and a reminder to seek and uphold justice in the service of the nation.
In his remarks, the leader of the group, Sheikh Muhammadu Mahi Ibrahim Inyass, told the President that members of the group would continue to support and appreciate his ‘‘noble agenda for the benefit of all Nigerians,’’ because they believe elected officials must be ‘‘accountable, incorruptible and God fearing.
‘‘It has never been easy. Even our Holy Prophet (SWA) was never totally accepted in his lifetime. It was only after he had long gone, people saw the wisdom in his preaching and sacrifices. We, therefore, urge you not to relent in your efforts.
‘‘Therefore, it is pertinent for you to note, Your Excellency, that majority of us are with your government and would ensure a total support for you in your effort to return Nigeria to the path of greater progress and development,’’ Sheikh Inyass said.
