How Obasanjo cut short a diplomatic trip abroad to attend the unveiling of "The Letterman" written by the editor of PREMIUM TIMES
Pleasant surprise and excitement filled the air halfway through the unveiling of "The Letterman: Inside the 'Secret' Letters of Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo" on Thursday afternoon, when the former president unexpectedly stormed the Bolton White Apartments, the Abuja venue for the event.
Mr. Obasanjo and his entourage arrived at the scene while a former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who represented former President Goodluck Jonathan, read the speech of the outgoing President who was the special guest of honor. p>
Upon Mr. Obasanjo's arrival at the crowded event center, Mr. Chidoka briefly suspended his presentation to announce the former statesman's attendance.
The announcement was met with a thunderous ovation from the audience as the 85-year-old made his way to the High Table.
The almost magical appearance of Mr. Obasanjo electrified the atmosphere of the crowded center.
Mr. Obasanjo, who ruled Nigeria at two different times, first as an unelected military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and a democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007, topped the list of dignitaries who honored the very well attended unveiling event.< /p>
Other dignitaries present at the book launch event included the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Kukah, a former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, a former FCT Minister, Aliyu Modibbo, a former Governor of the 'Bayelsa State and incumbent Senator, Seriake Dickson, Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, Senator representing Osun West, Aderele Oriolowo.
Others were Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, a former President of FIRS, who was the keynote presenter of the book, former Senator Babafemi Ojudu and the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), Asishana Okauru.
Mr. Obasanjo, a respected international statesman, is the key subject of the epic book written by PREMIUM TIMES Editor-in-Chief and COO Musikilu Mojeed.
Mr. Mojeed explained that the former Nigerian leader was the least likely guest to show up for the event for many reasons.
First, the book was written without the permission of the former president.
Secondly, the invitation letter sent to him for the event was unacknowledged, leaving no word as to whether he would attend or not.
Thirdly, Mr. Obasanjo was absent for a week-long diplomatic engagement in Ethiopia.
However, the former president mystically surfaced during the unveiling, bringing the event to a frenzied climax.
Mr. Obasanjo in his remarks claimed that he did not give the author permission to write the book although he enjoyed reading it.
"I had no intention of coming. He (Mojeed) didn't take my permission. Until last week, when he brought me two copies, I didn't know that he was writing the book. When I read the book, I was blown away. I was torn between the fact that he didn't tell me and the amount of work he put in.
“I read part of it and called him. he quotes me,” he said.
Mr. Obasanjo said Mr. Kukah convinced him to attend the book launch. “I met my Waterloo when I called Bishop Kukah, who told me he was reading my book. He told me to be here,” he said. Mr. Kukah was the reviewer for the book.
On how he managed his busy diplomatic schedule in Ethiopia to come back to Nigeria and attend the event, he said it was not an easy task for him.
He said his schedule of programs in Addis Ababa extended until Thursday, December 1, when the boom was unveiled. To save time, he asked Ethiopian officials to smash his two-day schedule into a single day. Afterwards, he said he had to reschedule his meetings in Ethiopia by ending his meeting on Wednesday, November 30.
Mr. Obasanjo, who is considered one of Africa's most respected former leaders, said he finds "The Letterman" incredibly good, adding that he wholeheartedly recommends the book for people to read.
However, he said he would have titled the book "The Audacity of an Optimist".
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Pleasant surprise and excitement filled the air halfway through the unveiling of "The Letterman: Inside the 'Secret' Letters of Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo" on Thursday afternoon, when the former president unexpectedly stormed the Bolton White Apartments, the Abuja venue for the event.
Mr. Obasanjo and his entourage arrived at the scene while a former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who represented former President Goodluck Jonathan, read the speech of the outgoing President who was the special guest of honor. p>
Upon Mr. Obasanjo's arrival at the crowded event center, Mr. Chidoka briefly suspended his presentation to announce the former statesman's attendance.
The announcement was met with a thunderous ovation from the audience as the 85-year-old made his way to the High Table.
The almost magical appearance of Mr. Obasanjo electrified the atmosphere of the crowded center.
Mr. Obasanjo, who ruled Nigeria at two different times, first as an unelected military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and a democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007, topped the list of dignitaries who honored the very well attended unveiling event.< /p>
Other dignitaries present at the book launch event included the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Kukah, a former Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, a former FCT Minister, Aliyu Modibbo, a former Governor of the 'Bayelsa State and incumbent Senator, Seriake Dickson, Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, Senator representing Osun West, Aderele Oriolowo.
Others were Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, a former President of FIRS, who was the keynote presenter of the book, former Senator Babafemi Ojudu and the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), Asishana Okauru.
Mr. Obasanjo, a respected international statesman, is the key subject of the epic book written by PREMIUM TIMES Editor-in-Chief and COO Musikilu Mojeed.
Mr. Mojeed explained that the former Nigerian leader was the least likely guest to show up for the event for many reasons.
First, the book was written without the permission of the former president.
Secondly, the invitation letter sent to him for the event was unacknowledged, leaving no word as to whether he would attend or not.
Thirdly, Mr. Obasanjo was absent for a week-long diplomatic engagement in Ethiopia.
However, the former president mystically surfaced during the unveiling, bringing the event to a frenzied climax.
Mr. Obasanjo in his remarks claimed that he did not give the author permission to write the book although he enjoyed reading it.
"I had no intention of coming. He (Mojeed) didn't take my permission. Until last week, when he brought me two copies, I didn't know that he was writing the book. When I read the book, I was blown away. I was torn between the fact that he didn't tell me and the amount of work he put in.
“I read part of it and called him. he quotes me,” he said.
Mr. Obasanjo said Mr. Kukah convinced him to attend the book launch. “I met my Waterloo when I called Bishop Kukah, who told me he was reading my book. He told me to be here,” he said. Mr. Kukah was the reviewer for the book.
On how he managed his busy diplomatic schedule in Ethiopia to come back to Nigeria and attend the event, he said it was not an easy task for him.
He said his schedule of programs in Addis Ababa extended until Thursday, December 1, when the boom was unveiled. To save time, he asked Ethiopian officials to smash his two-day schedule into a single day. Afterwards, he said he had to reschedule his meetings in Ethiopia by ending his meeting on Wednesday, November 30.
Mr. Obasanjo, who is considered one of Africa's most respected former leaders, said he finds "The Letterman" incredibly good, adding that he wholeheartedly recommends the book for people to read.
However, he said he would have titled the book "The Audacity of an Optimist".
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