Former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, has felicitated ex-Nigerian leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for marking his 87th birthday on Tuesday.
The ex-senator said Obasanjo survived the Civil War that lasted between 1967 and 1970, and came out from imprisonment from 1995 to 1998 under former military ruler, Gen Sani Abacha.
The former federal lawmaker showered praises on Obasanjo for returning the country to the democratically elected government of the Second Republic in 1979.
Sani who made these known via his X account on Tuesday added that the former president is endowed with special strength even as he governed for eight years without seeking any medical tourism.
He wrote, “Obasanjo midwifed the second republic in 1979 where Shagari, Awo, Zik, Aminu Kano, Waziri Ibrahim and later Braithwaite strongly led that season. The great men all died and Obasanjo is still alive.
“With the exception of Jim Nwobodo and Awwal Ibrahim now an Emir, all the Governors of the Second Republic have died, Obasanjo is still alive.
“He was Nigeria’s President 17 years ago and he can still play soccer, dance and send missiles he calls letters. He survived the Civil War, survived the prison and survived the Presidency.”
“He served as President for 8 years without record of visiting any European country for medical reasons,” he stated.
Speaking about the octogenarian’s physical and mental stability, Sani said though he was a senior to Obasanjo when they were in the KiriKiri prison, he remained strong and resilient as an old soldier man.
Sani said, “I was his senior in Kiri Kiri maximum security prison in 1995, when we were all charged for treason and sentenced to life imprisonment and later reduced to 15 years by the Abacha military tribunal. In prison, he remained strong as an old soldier.”
“What could be the secret behind the resilience, enduring spirit and longevity of Obasanjo? Nigerian medical scientists should help us with this answer.”
“I know not of anyone who is detribalised and so passionate about Nigeria and the African continent than Obasanjo and some of his contemporaries,” he added.
“Happy 87th Birthday to Ex-President Obasanjo!” Sani remarked.