From Laide Raheem,
Abeokuta
All roads led to the ancient city of abeokuta on saturday as the acting-president of nigeria, professor yemi osinbajo and the chairperson of the ecowas and liberian president, ellen johnson-sirleaf, led other 17 past and serving african leaders to inaugurate the first presidential library in africa, the olusegun obasanjo presidential library.
The official inauguration which was also attended by the former president goodluck jonathan, general abdusalam abubakar (rtd), secretary-general of the common wealth, emeka anyaoku, chief ernest shonekan as well as other top government functionaries, captains of industry and members of the international community, similarly saw politicians from different political parties getting together to honour former president olusegun obasanjo.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held inside the conference hall of the library, acting-president yemi osinbajo, described obasanjo as a selfless giver and authentic icon of not only nigeria, but africa and the world.
According to him, obasanjo remains a true and strong detribalized nigerian who has recorded his views and perspectives, especially of the times, in various books, articles, seminars, which eventually transformed into the amazing monument (oopl).
Osinbajo said: “very few human beings have a chance of making history and fewer still have a good fortune of making history and writing it as you go a long and living longer to even establish a library and write history in your own words. Baba olusegun obasanjo is certainly one of those rare human beings.
“History is the most compassionate teacher. At some point in time, we were told in an adage that experience is the best teacher but now we know it is only half of a well wise-saying. The full statement of that adage is that experience is the best teacher for a fool, a wise man doesn’t need the pain of experience, history is a kinder and a more compassionate teacher.
“President olusegun obasanjo is therefore a gift in various ways being so intricately tied to the history of nigeria, few years away from independence to the civil war and then head of state with the nigerian people and then the transition to civil rule and then from retirement and farming and being twice elected as president of nigeria and then handed over to another president. “At every turn, he recorded his views and perspectives and especially of the times in various books, articles, seminars and now in this amazing monument to add credible life of service to our continent and to our world.
“Aside from all else, his enduring legacy will be his belief in one strong, detribalised nigeria and this is so evidence in the gatherings of nigerians here and also his belief in the world. And in practice in an africa united in vision and thoughts again, that pan-africanist vision is evident in the large gathering of african serving and former heads of government here present.
“I’m sure that as visitors to this library, especially young nigerians, will learn from both what they see and hear and read about our place in the history of our society. I’m privileged to be here to celebrate in this library, who has given and continuously gives, an authentic african icon, chief olusegun obasanjo”.
In her remarks, liberian president, ellen johnson-sirleaf, said oopl is a precedent-setting presidential library in africa, which will preserve history for the benefit of the future.
The liberian president, who also doubled as the chairman of the occasion called on other african presidents to emulate obasanjo and demonstrate to the world that africa has the capacity to lift itself.
“This is africa’s first, which was conceived via chief olusegun obasanjo’s innovative vision. It is also a living testimony that africa has the capacity to lift itself. Where history and technology meet, it becomes a dynamic tool for learning and inspire.
“This should be emulated by others, as this is history-making monument. I therefore urge everybody all over the world to visit this library, to see, hear, read and interact with culture”. The ecowas chairperson said.
Also speaking, ogun state governor, senator ibikunle amosun, described obj as the global leader and eminent citizen of the world. He said the library has added another first to so many positives firsts recorded by ogun state noting oopl, modelled after the american presidential library, would serve as a veritable source of intellectual materials for the socio- political development of not only nigeria, but africa as a whole.
Speaking, former president olusegun obasanjo said the library was a combination of vision and dream which he conceived in 1988.
Obasanjo who rued his inability to collect historical materials especially during the civil war, except for those he could micro-film, said the library was a dream come true.
He added though the turning of sod of the library was done in 2005, some sections of had been completed in 2007.
The former president said the library would help in sustaining nigeria’s heritage, inspire the future and enhance tourism.
He, however, flayed those who opposed the project either out of ignorance or mischief, and thanked former governor olusegun osoba for making the expanse of land available for the pioneer presidential library in africa.