Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has said ormer President
Olusegun Obasanjo owes Nigerians an explanation over his absence at the
inauguration ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Obasanjo neither attended the May 29 event where Buhari took
oath of office nor the June 12 event when the president hosted African leaders.
Both programmes held at Eagle Square, Abuja.
While Yakubu Gowon attended the May 29 event, all former
heads of state and presidents were absent at the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Shehu said Obasanjo was
invited to both programmes but didn’t attend any.
He said the government played its part and would not take
blames for Obasanjo’s absence.
According to Shehu, “Obasanjo, owes an answer to Nigerians
on his absence from the 2019 Presidential inauguration and Democracy Day
celebration because the claim that he was not invited or he did not receive an
invitation cannot be sustained.
“Since the claim was first made, elements in the polity that
have deliberately and consistently been trying to lead the country toward
polarization have cashed in on it, throwing all manner of rubbish at the Buhari
Presidency.
“The fact remains that the Secretary to the Government, Boss
Mustapha wrote on May 16th, 2019.
“The invitation was sent to Chief Obasanjo’s known
forwarding address, detailing out all the major events, and the invitation
cards were delivered by a reputable courier company as confirmed.”
He said the personal secretary of the ex-president
acknowledge receipt of the invitation.
“The receipt of the letter and invitation cards as delivered
by the courier company was confirmed by Mr. Taiwo Ojo, the long standing
Personal Secretary to the former President,” he said.
“If, in the circumstance, Chief Obasanjo did not see or
receive the letter and invitation cards as published by Vanguard newspaper
(Page 16, June 16, 2019) and several other news platforms, then the former
President needs to find out what is happening with his own secretariat.
“The government office did its job diligently and should not
be blemished for no reason.”
Shehu, however, did not provide evidence that the
invitations were sent to and received by Obasanjo.
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