* Buhari and Obasanjo
President Muhammadu Buhari has extended hearty birthday wishes to  former President of Nigeria and elder statesman, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR),  who  turns 79 years old on March 5, 2016.

 Buhari  affirmed  that the former president, who is approaching the octogenarian cycle, has contributed immensely to the institutionalization of democracy in Nigeria and Africa through his personal sacrifice, extensive local and international networks, and God-given wisdom.

 He added  that Chief Obasanjo’s place in global history is assured for successfully handing over power to a civilian government in 1979 after serving as a military Head of State, and returning to power in 1999 through elections to stabilize the polity, during which he most remarkably negotiated a debt relief for Nigeria.

 The President in a statement signed by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity)  warmly commends  Obasanjo’s vision and commitment to the growth of Nigeria and Africa, which translated into a historical growth rate of 6 percent for the Nigerian economy after a long period of slow growth, and also created a rippling effect that buoyed other African economies.

 As he turns 79, Buhari  avers that the former president’s regular shuttles across Nigeria and Africa to counsel on economic, social and political issues, and his willingness to head election monitoring teams that have heralded smooth transitions in many countries are legacies which generations will remain grateful.