Obasanjo explains absence at Shagari's birthday ceremony

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed dissatisfaction with some media reports over his absence at the 90th birthday ceremony of former President Shehu Shagari in Sokoto last week.

Obasanjo, in a statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta yesterday, reacted to the reports, describing it as unfortunate. According to the former President, 'I have read with dismay the imputation of some section of the media to the unfortunate incident of my not being able to be with my colleagues at the birthday celebration of former President Shehu Shagari on Wednesday, February, 25.'

The former President explained that, having left Abeokuta at about 6.45pm to catch up with his colleagues in Sokoto, his entourage ran into heavy road traffic on the fateful day, a situation that caused the delay.

'Leaving Abeokuta at 6:45am and hoping to fly out of Lagos airport at 8:30am, to Sokoto, we ran into a very bad traffic hold-up that made me get to Lagos airport at 10:45am.

   'I did not arrive at Shagari's house until mid-day by which time the team of my colleagues had left. It is a pity that the media did not report my profuse apologies to both Shagari and other colleagues when I spoke at Shagari's house,' the statement disclosed.

 Obasanjo noted, 'I have no cause to dodge, avoid or snub my colleagues for what we all agreed to do together.'