Buhari is a man on assignment says tinubu

Gowon, Obasanjo, President of Niger, Tinubu, Gambari, Onu, Akande, Others pour encomiums on Buhari at book launch in Abuja

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

A BUJA-COMMENDATION of the tenacity of purpose of President Muhammadu Buhari poured out in Abuja, Monday, as it was revealed that his political opponents had sworn that he would never again reclaim the leadership of the country, irrespective of his repeated attempts. The revelation at a book launch celebrating the President, came amid continuing intrigues in the leadership of the President's All Progressives Congress, APC, as party insiders continued to bridge the gap between National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This was as former President Olusegun Obasanjo stated that he had had many encounters with Buhari in their military and political journeys, even as the National Leader of APC and former Governor of Lagos State, Aiswaju Bola Tinubu, described President Buhari as a man of assignments. Gowon, Obasanjo and Tinubu spoke during the launch of a book, titled: Muhammadu Buhari: Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria, at the International Conference Center, ICC, Abuja.

American academic

The book, which was written by an accomplished American academic, Professor John Paden, was a chronology of the life and times of President Buhari, both in military and civilian governments. Tinubu and Odigie-Oyegun, who had a public spat last week, greeted each other and shook hands at yesterday's ceremony but subsequently seemed to avoid further interactions. Vanguard gathered that a number of party leaders used the occasion of the book launch to explore moves of reconciling the two party leaders. Another party leader, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who was absent at the event claimed that he received his invitation for the event after the ceremony commenced, yesterday.

Buhari, a man of destiny- Gowon

Gowon, who was also the chairman of the occasion, said Buhari was a dogged fighter and a man of destiny. He said: "It is an honour for me to be here at the public presentation of Muhammadu Buhari: The challenges of leadership in Nigeria, which has been described as a penetrative biography of Mr. President. I do not expect the book to be anything less than it has been described. More so, as everyone created by God, particularly in a position of leadership, is a story waiting to be told. As to be expected, today's event, to quote the late politician, Chief K. O. Mbadiwe, is a gathering of political juggernauts and men and women of timber and calibre.

"Buhari deserves every word of praise as well as criticism. I can say without fear of favour that President Buhari is a fighter and a man of destiny. As a young officer, he did so well during several assignments and operations within and without Nigeria that attracted my attention and that of the leadership and that is the reason he catapulted to the top within a short time.

"As a combat politician, he fought many battles to take charge of Nigeria from Aso Villa, in spite of being told several times that he would never see the inside of the Villa.

"His election in 2015 as President in a free and fair election is, therefore, an affirmation of the notion that persistence pays. His is like the Irish man, third time lucky but not for their term."

I have had many encounters with Buhari - Obasanjo

Also speaking, former President Olusegun Obasanjo who told a story of Buhari's credibility during his time as a federal commissioner, said that despite their disagreement on issues, they had not lost their affinity for each other.

"The President and I have many encounters but most of them in parallel. Not too long ago, we had a direct opposition at the ballot box. But even then, it did not affect our relationship. Fortunately, we didn't have to look at each other through the barrel of our guns and I thank God for that," Obasanjo spoke in his capacity as a special guest of honour.

Buhari, a man of assignments-Tinubu

Reviewing the book, APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said Buhari had had to come to the national stage at various critical times, assuring that he would fix the economy, which he said was ruined by the government of People's Democratic Party, PDP.

He said: "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 book's pages, we see a man who has lived his life on assignments that always intersected with vital moments in the nation's history. He was a man on assignment, when, in the military, he served bravely in a civil war to keep Nigeria united.

"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.

"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."

The APC leader also gave an account of encounter with President Buhari during the formation of APC.

Tinubu said: "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 leader, he acted with single-minded determination that showed no fear or doubt in the rightfulness of the cause we pursued.

Initial contribution

"So many people made contributions that made the historic merger possible. It would be impossible to give each person the accolades he deserves in a concise work such as this one. However, it is an account that we must begin to chronicle fully, and with care, for it is the story of when reform came to the land. Here, I must say that this book makes a good initial contribution toward this objective.

"Indeed, the APC is a party born of the quest for democratic good governance. In essence, the party is the embodiment of a democratic promise made between its members as well as a democratic vow made to the public. The APC genesis is truly a historic and an engaging one."

Proceeds of the launch are for charity - Paden, author of the book

Meanwhile, the author of the book, Professor Paden, in his remarks, said the book followed the life and challenges of President Buhari in both military and civilian regimes.

He also said the proceeds of the book would be given to charity and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North East.

"This books seeks to answer the questions: Who's President Buhari and how's he grappling with the many challenges of Nigeria. My initial motivation was to introduce President Buhari to the international audience on the assumptions that Nigerians already knew their president. But increasingly, I came to feel that, perhaps, Nigerians might find it useful to review.

"The book follows Buhari through his challenges in and out of office, his military training in UK and elsewhere, his roles in military regime including his time as military head of state for 20 months; his detention, his re-emergence as a civil society leader and his eventual engagement in politics in the 4th Republic since 1999. The book is clearly a work in progress," he said.

Buhari: I am grateful

Meanwhile, President Buhari, who was made to speak to the audience against the original plan of no speaking role, appreciated the author of the book and his guests for honouring his invitation in a short time.

"I am very grateful to all that volunteered to come, to Chairman and organising committee. I honestly, do not expect the audience that has turned out because of the timing. Today is a public holiday. A lot of people are supposed to be at home with their families. But you made it. I am very grateful, especially to the author, who tolerated me," he said.

The book launch also attracted Presidents of Chad, Cameroon and Benin Republic, with many Government officials, past and present, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Vice President Namadi Sambo, as well as several state governors and Chairman and Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka.

Others in attendance, included Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Governors Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State; Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Edo State Governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki; Tony Elumelu, Chairman, UBA PLC; Mr. Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank, among others