The Presidency has described as a lie, the claim that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was absent at the 2019 presidential inauguration and Democracy Day ceremonies because he was not invited.
In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the claim that Obasanjo was not invited to the inauguration and Democracy Day ceremonies “cannot be sustained.”
The Presidency therefore said Obasanjo owed an answer to Nigerians on his absence at the two occasions.
The Presidency said since the claim was first made, elements in the polity that had deliberately and consistently been trying to lead the country toward polarization had cashed in on it, throwing all manner of rubbish at the Buhari Presidency.
It said the fact remained that the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha wrote on May 16th, 2019 to: “His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Agbe L’Oba House, Quarry Road, Ibara, P.O.Box 2286, Abeokuta, Ogun State.”
It said the invitation was sent to Chief Obasanjo’s known forwarding address, detailing out all the major events, and the invitation cards were delivered by a reputable courier company as confirmed.
The receipt of the letter and invitation cards as delivered by the courier company was confirmed by Mr. Taiwo Ojo, the long standing Personal Secretary to the former President, the Presidency stated.
“If, in the circumstance, Chief Obasanjo did not see or receive the letter and invitation cards as published by Vanguard newspaper (Page 16, June 16, 2019) and several other news platforms, then the former President needs to find out what is happening with his own secretariat.
“The government office did its job diligently and should not be blemished for no reason,” the Presidency said.
