•As Buhari’s biographies generate over N500m
By Egena Sunday Ode
It was all eulogies and accolades by dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria, led by the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, for President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday as two books written about his life and times as well as his leadership experience were launched.
Speaking as Chairman of the Occasion at the public presentation and launch of the two biographies, President Akufo-Addo assured his Nigerian counterpart that history will be kind to him.
The Ghanaian President, who took time in his opening remarks to highlight some of the achievements of Buhari, whom he noted shared a similar experience in the journey to the Presidency with, however said Africa and the world would miss his leadership when he leaves office in a few days.
The two books; “State of Repair: How Muhammadu Buhari Tried to Change Nigeria for Good”, written by Antony Goldman and “The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari”, written by Senator Abu Ibrahim, were reviewed by the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Professor Abubakar Sadeeque Abba.
The highlight of the ceremony was the realization of about N500 million at the launching of the books by the dignitaries at the event, led by the Co-Launchers, the Chairman of the BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu and Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam.
In his Opening Remarks, President Akufo-Addo, while eulogizing President Buhari for providing model leadership for Nigeria and other regional and international organizations that he had been tasked to lead, particularly noted how he tamed the Boko Haram menace.
“Likewise, through the launch of today’s biographies, the story of President Muhammadu Buhari, a man who made such a great effort to change Nigeria for good, is being told by those who’ve had the opportunity to see for themselves at firsthand, from the beginning of his mandate as a democratically elected president, to his last days in office, the highs and lows of his tenure thus far. From what I have read and know, the life of Muhammadu Buhari has been truly an amazing story.
“The works the President Buhari has done in helping to diversify Nigerian agriculture and thereby enhancing significantly agricultural productivity, reviving the economy and ensuring consistently fast rates of growth. These developments, for me, have vindicated the choice of Nigerians, which I believe enabled continuity in office for the APC, through President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“You can imagine the excitement in the ranks of the NPP with the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, about the prospects of a third term agenda for the NPP, what we in NPP call ‘breaking the eight’.
“By the same token, the efforts President Buhari has made to defeat the scourge of Boko Haram, a process which is still ongoing are also testimonies of his determination to establish full normalcy and security in Nigeria.
“His tentacles extended beyond Nigeria; Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of States and Government of ECOWAS; Chairperson of the Gulf of Guinea Commission; ECOWAS Chairman in the coordination of the fight against COVID-19, amongst several others, and in all of these, he has spared no effort to ensure the successful execution of the objectives of his office.
“As leaders, we all have our high and low moments, but I have no doubt that posterity will be kind to Muhammadu Buhari.
“President Buhari, we will miss you. West Africa, Africa, and indeed, the world will miss your leadership, the leadership of a military ruler, turned consummate democrat, who’s extremely solicitous of Nigerian and African interests and who sought for principles in all decisions which he took.
“I’m yet to have a book written about me, let alone author one myself. I have some 19 months to leave the office and I guess I have to take a cue from my seniors and hope the books will give about me”, he said.
After the unveiling of the books by the Ghanaian President, various guests at the event launched them, bringing the money generated to something above N500 million.
The Chairman of BUA Group, Rabiu, led other donors with the sum of N200 million, followed by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, who launched with the sum of N100 million to obtain copies of both books just as Muhammed Idimi also bought copies of the books for N100 million.
The President-elect and the Vice President-elect, Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima obtained copies for a combined amount of N40 million.
Besides the President-elect, who was represented by the Vice-President-elect, Senator Shettima, other dignitaries at the event included the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan; Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu and many others.
