Let’s celebrate ourselves, Obasanjo tells Nigerians

A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has called
on Nigerians to celebrate themselves at all times.
He said this on Thursday in Abeokuta at a ceremony
organised in honour of His Lordship, Josiah Odowu-
Fearon, on his appointment as the Secretary-General of
the World Anglican Communion.
Obasanjo said Nigerians should not wait for outsiders
to celebrate them, adding that Nigerians have always
been celebrated from people outside the country.
He said, “We should celebrate ourselves all the time.
Nigerians have always been celebrated by outsiders.
We should try to honour ourselves like what we are
doing here today.”
Fearon, who said his relationship with the former
President dated back to the 70s, also urged Nigerians
to shun anything that could endanger the unity of the
nation.
While he described Obasanjo as a true national leader,
Fearon called on Nigerians to shun religious violence
and emulate the former President who though a
Christian, built a mosque at his presidential library
complex, in Abeokuta.
Also calling on Nigerians irrespective of religion to
embrace one another, he stressed that “we serve only
one God with different approaches.”
He urged the Yoruba in the South-West to teach their
northern counterparts how people of all faith should live
in harmony.
He, however, advised Nigerian youths to emulate
Obasanjo by cultivating the culture of reading, who he
noted, would soon complete his Ph.D programme.
The dignitaries at the event include Ogun State Deputy
Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, Cardinal John
Onaiyekan, Senator Tunde Ogbeha and a presidential
aspirant of All Progressives Congress, Sam Nda-Isaiah.