President Bola Tinubu has told a former Military Administrator of Ondo State, Chief Olabode George, that he was happy he did not celebrate his 80th birthday in exile.
The Eagle Online recalls George, who marked his 80th birthday on Friday, had said he would go on exile if Tinubu won the 2023 poll.
Speaking at the birthday event at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos, Tinubu, whose address was read by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said he was delighted to honour him.
He applauded the service to the nation of the member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that George launched two books, including a memoir, at the occasion.
Tinubu said he was delighted to honour George, whom he described as an elder brother and respected Lagos indigene.
He said: “At 80, Chief George has lived a whole life.
“He dedicated his life to this country with a distinguished career in the military.
“As a leader of note and ‘Lagos boy’ as he has always proudly described himself, he has devotion and undisguised love for the country and his state of birth.
“Today’s event is thus a celebration of a distinguished Nigerian, and an outstanding politician.”
Tinubu said George had lived a full life dedicated to serving Nigeria through distinguished military and public careers.
The President said the celebration was a tribute to a patriot, statesman, and outstanding politician.
He said he was pleased when he received George’s invitation to attend the event.
He said the invitation reflected the Lagos spirit of shared history and good neighbourliness.
Tinubu said the event showed that politicians could disagree, yet still uphold values that bind them as one national family, noting that he and George had been on opposite political sides since 1999.
He stressed that political differences never diminished his admiration for him as a leader.
He added that mutual respect had always existed between them despite years of political rivalry.
The President said he was happy that George marked his 80th birthday in good health and in the country.
He recalled George’s past vow to go into exile if he became president, saying he urged him then to stay in Nigeria, assuring him of his commitment to ensuring the country’s peace and prosperity.
Tinubu acknowledged that George had since offered valuable advice through various interventions on national issues.
The President described the memoir as a detailed account of George’s life, education, and military service.
He said the book also covered George’s roles as military governor, PDP leader, and former chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
He urged Nigerians to support the launch and wished George continued health and greater service to the nation.
NAN reports that George is a retired Naval Commodore, former Military Governor in Ondo State, and former PDP Deputy National Chairman.
Other notable dignitaries at the event included Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and former Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Senator Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), and Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano).
Also as the event were the newly-elected factional PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki; PDP National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja; PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; retired military officers; friends; and families
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Occasion, retired General Ike Nwachukwu, eulogised George’s virtues of resilience and determination in his life journey.
Nwachukwu, who was represented by Chief Dele Ogedengbe, a legal luminary and two-term Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, said that George demonstrated a life of resilience and determination in spite of all setbacks.
He said: “Bode George has gone through a lot in life, prosecuted, convicted, imprisoned, yet he kept fighting until he was exonerated by the Supreme Court.
“Throughout, he remained steadfast and focused.”
He urged Nigerians to emulate George’s resilience and determination and never give up in the face of any challenge.
NAN reports that George marked his 80th birthday with the review and launch of two books: “Unfiltered: A Chronicle of Selected Speeches” and “Bode George: From the Cradle, To the Seas, To the Podium, An Autobiography Of A Nigerian Trailblazer.”
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
[wpadcenter_ad id=’745970′ align=’none’]
Leave a comment