Tobias Sylvester
The Presidency on Wednesday asked former President Olusegun Obasanjo to tell Nigerians why he stayed away from the May 29, 2019 inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Democracy Day on June 12.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the president on media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, ex-President Obasanjo owes Nigerians an explanation over his absence.
It would be recalled former Nigerian leaders, except Yakubu Gowon stayed away from the second term inauguration of the President Buhari.
Shehu however said contrary to insinuations, former president Obasanjo was invited to the inauguration and the Democracy Day Celebration held on June 12, but attended none.
“The former President, Chief Olusegun 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”, Shehu said.
Insisting that the personal secretary of the ex-president acknowledge receipt of the invitation, Shehu said: “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.
“If in the circumstance, Chief Obasanjo did not see or receive the letter and invitation cards as published by several 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”, he said.
