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Presidents
Patrice Talon of Benin, Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, Mahammadou Issoufou of Niger
Republic and their host, Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria
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President Mahammadou
Issoufou of Niger Republic, has commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration for fighting the Boko Haram insurgents to a standstill.
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Presidents Mahammadou Issoufou of Niger Republic (left), Idriss
Deby Itno of Chad (2nd left), Nigeria’s first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, and their
host, Muhammadu Buhari (centre), former presidents Gowon, and Olusegun Obasanjo
(2nd right) and others at the Launch of the book, in three parts and 24 chapters titled:
“Muhammadu Buhari – The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria.’’
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Issoufou
made the commendation on Monday in Abuja at the public presentation of a book
written in honour of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The
book, in three parts and 24 chapters titled: “Muhammadu Buhari – The challenges
of Leadership in Nigeria,’’ was written by Prof. John Paden.
The
Nigerien president, who spoke in French, saluted Buhari’s leadership qualities,
saying that Nigerians and Nigeriens had a lot to learn from the Nigerian
leader.
He,
particularly, acknowledged the achievements of Buhari in the areas of security,
good governance and the fight against corruption.
According
to Issoufou, Niger Republic will continue to partner with Nigeria and other
countries in the Lake Chad Basin in checking the menace of Boko Haram in
Nigeria and beyond.
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Buhari accompanied by his first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, greets the author of the Book, Professor John Paden
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Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu, the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was
one of the four reviewers of the book, commended the author.
The
former governor of Lagos State, described the book as “educative and
informative reading and timely narrative.’’
He
described President Buhari “as a true democrat, a disciplined and focused
person right from his youthful days till his present position.’’
Tinubu
said that Buhari was in haste to bring changes as a young leader, while “Buhari
as an older leader is now slow and steady.’’
He
said: “this authorized biography of Nigeria’s leader, President Muhammadu
Buhari, attempts a broad characterization of the different stages of his life
and professional career.
“Essentially,
the book explores how his professional career, his personal life and prior
experiences in government shaped and prepared him for the momentous assignment
he now has.
“From
the pages of the book, we see a man who has lived his life on assignments that
always intersected with vital moments in the nation’s history.’’
The
APC leader said that Buhari was a man on assignment when he served bravely in
the military in a civil war to keep Nigeria united.
He
added that the Nigerian leader was also 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 (Buhari) 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 assignment, against time, to undo the wrongs of
nearly two decades of bad governance.
“Such
is the life of this man. Always in the public eye doing things in his
different, disciplined and Spartan way.
“From
this compelling narrative, neatly demarcated into three parts and 24 chapters,
the reader is able to glean the quintessential Buhari,’’ he said.
Tinubu
used the opportunity of the book launch to call for the immediate
re-introduction of history in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
He
said the call had become imperative in order to expose students to the
biographies of great leaders within and outside the country.
Prof.
Ibrahim Gambari, who also reviewed the book, observed that the author should
have consulted widely.
He
said that the author should have spoken to people like him, who served as
minister of Foreign Affairs under the military administration of president
Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo amongst others.
Gambari,
who frowned at the activities of those he described as “enemies of the Nigerian
State,’’ said that all the governors elected on the platform of the APC must
support president Buhari’s efforts to realize the Change mantra of the APC
manifesto.
According
to him, Buhari seems to have been left alone in executing the Nigeria Project,
saying that the president deserves the support and encouragement of all
Nigerians irrespective of their socio-political backgrounds.
Mrs
Nike Akande, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, delivered a
goodwill message at the event.
She
said that the business community in Nigeria remained grateful to Buhari for
establishing the Presidential Enabling Business Environment under the
chairmanship of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
“This
is a clear demonstration of the Buhari-led administration’s resolve to fix the
investment climate issues in the economy and enhance private sector
competitiveness.
“He
has given Nigeria a leadership that the country deserves at this critical
moment of our history,’’ she added.
Other
leaders including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Head of State,
Yakubu Gowon also eulogized Buhari at the occasion.
The
author of the book, John Paden, said that the book was an attempt to introduce
Buhari to the international audience “since Nigerians already know who Buhari
is.’’
According
to him, the book seeks to answer the questions: who is president Buhari and how
he is grappling with the many challenges of Nigeria.
“My
initial motivation was to introduce president Buhari to the international audience
on the assumption that Nigerians already knew their president.
“But
increasingly, I came to feel that, perhaps, Nigerians might find it useful to
review.”
Paden
said: “the book follows Buhari through his challenges in and out of the office,
his military training in UK and elsewhere, his roles in military regime
including his time as military head of state for 20 months.
“It
also follows his detention, his re-emergence as a civil society leader and his
eventual engagement in politics in the fourth republic since 1999.
“The
book is clearly a work in progress.
“Let
me note that over the years, I witness the emergence of president Buhari as a
charismatic figure to millions of young people.
“Since
taken office, I have also witnessed his emergence as an internal statesman.
“I
tried to remain objective since over the years I have worked with Nigerians on
all points of political spectrum.”
President
Buhari, who expressed appreciation to the author of the book, described his
relation with the author as `genuine friendship.’
The
president, who also lauded the author’s professionalism and intellect, thanked
all those who attended the event.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two presenters of the book, Tunde
Folawiyo and Abdulsamad Rabiu jointly bought two copies of the book for each
tertiary institution in country.
Others
notable dignitaries who graced the book launch, included President Idris Derby
of Chad, President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic, Vice-President Yemi
Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives,
Yakubu Dogara.
The
presidents of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea sent representatives to the event
which attracted other personalities like former Vice-President Namadi Sambo and
traditional rulers from across the country.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps and business community, several state governors, friends and well wishers of the president also attended the event.
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