Ex-AfDB boss Adesina, Fayemi hail Obasanjo on 89th birthday

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The immediate past President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, has lauded former President Olusegun Obasanjo as he marked his 89th birthday.

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In a statement issued on Thursday, the former Minister of Agriculture described Obasanjo as a courageous leader and a guiding voice for both Africa and the world.

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Adesina said the former president’s influence “transcends generations and national borders,” noting that his credibility and moral authority remain widely respected.

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“He steps boldly into the battlefields of ideas and argument, unafraid to speak, unafraid to stand, and unafraid to be counted.

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“President Obasanjo has consistently demonstrated courage in speaking truth to power and engaging boldly in national and global debates,” Adesina said.

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Adesina also highlighted Obasanjo’s role as a decisive thinker whose voice is often crucial during times of crisis.

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“When conflict rises, and storms gather over nations, the world turns to voices of wisdom — and among those voices uniquely stands President Obasanjo,” he said.

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Reflecting on Obasanjo’s military past, Adesina noted that the former president, who has experienced the horrors of war, later emerged as “a promoter of peace, reconciliation and dialogue.”

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The former AfDB boss likened Obasanjo to an ideal elder in Yoruba tradition, one who not only warns but actively helps society correct its course.

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Adesina said, “You are an elder among elders, a reconciler of differences, and a defender of the weak.

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“As you turn 89, we celebrate not only the years you have lived but the lives you have touched, the conflicts you have calmed and the courage you have inspired.”

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Also, a former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated the former President on his 89th birthday, describing him as one of Nigeria’s most consequential statesmen.

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In a statement on Thursday by his Head of Media Office, Ahmad Sajoh, Fayemi praised Obasanjo for his decades of dedication to Nigeria’s unity and his role in advancing democracy across Africa.

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“Chief Obasanjo remains a towering figure in Nigeria’s public life and a statesman whose commitment to the unity, stability and progress of our country has been steadfast over the years,” Fayemi said.

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Fayemi noted that Obasanjo’s leadership at critical moments, including his tenure as Head of State and later as a democratically elected President, helped shape Nigeria’s political and institutional trajectory.

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He also highlighted Obasanjo’s influence beyond Nigeria, saying the former president has been “a consistent advocate for peace, democratic values, and development across the African continent.”

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Fayemi further commended Obasanjo’s courage and willingness to speak truth to power, noting that it “continues to enrich national discourse and strengthen democratic culture in Nigeria.”

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“As he marks his 89th birthday, I join family members, friends, associates, and countless admirers across Nigeria and the world in celebrating a life devoted to service,” Fayemi said. “We remain grateful for his sacrifices and his continuing role as a mentor to many within and outside public life.”

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He prayed for God’s continued blessings upon Obasanjo, wishing him “many more years in good health, wisdom, and strength in service to Nigeria and humanity.”

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