I’ve every reason to thank God, says Obasanjo

TRACKING >Former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel (left); the incumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; and the Odole of Ife, Chief Kessington Adebutu, during the Annual Thanksgiving in honour of the ex-president in Abeokuta…yesterday.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he has every reason to thank God for blessing him.

He was speaking yesterday during the Annual Thanksgiving Service organised in his honour by the Ogun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at Chapel of Christ the Glorious King inside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Prominent people from across Nigeria gathered to thank God on behalf of the former president. Among them were the President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun; former governor, Gbenga Daniel; Sir Kensington Adebutu and Prof. Akin Mabogunje.

Obasanjo took the only Bible reading of the service from Psalm 92.

In his brief remark, he told the congregation: “I, born from a very small village of Ibogun-Olaogun in Ogun State to pure illiterate parents, have no reason not to thank God for what I have become today.”

Emphasising the importance of thanksgiving, the Ota farmer said, “I always say this; whatever I have achieved, whatever I have done, I thank God because it is not me alone; there are those who have worked with me, some of them are dead, some of them are still alive, and without them, I will not have been able to achieve much. On occasions like this, let us just thank God and keep thanking God.”

Bishop of Egba Anglican Diocese, Emmanuel Adekunle, in his sermon, urged Nigerians to brace up to whatever the New Year throws at them.

“Things are hard all over the world; it is not only in Nigeria that things are not working well,” he added.

He warned Nigerians to turn away from evil ways and contribute to development, if the country must progress.

The cleric admonished the leaders of the country to render selfless service to the country and to God, warning that God would not hesitate to visit his wrath on corrupt leaders.

Governor Abiodun described Obasanjo as a God-fearing leader whose life was worthy of emulation.

He insisted that God had not only used Obasanjo to do great things for Nigeria but also for Africa at large.

“We all know and appreciate that God doesn’t make and didn’t make many like Baba and I’m sure that God is not probably going to make anymore like him.”

National president of CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, described Obasanjo as the “pillar of Christianity” in Nigeria, noting that the country needed more of selfless leaders like Obasanjo.