The presidency has refuted claims made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that he was not invited to the 2019 presidential inauguration and Democracy Day celebrations.
Obasanjo who is openly against the Buhari-led government, was conspicously absent from the 2019 presidential Inauguration and democracy day celebrations. He recently told reporters that he was not invited for the celebration by the Federal government.
In a swift reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement released last night, said the former President owes Nigerians an answer for his absence because the claim that he was not invited or he did not receive an invitation cannot be sustained.
Shehu noted that since Obasanjo made the claim, elements in the polity that have deliberately and consistently been trying to lead the country toward polarisation have cashed in on it, throwing all manner of rubbish at the Buhari Presidency.
According to Shehu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, wrote on May 16, 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.”
“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.
“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 statement read
