President Muhammadu Buhari has recalled the feat performed by the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie Oyegun who he said led the party to unseat an incumbent President in the 2015 election.
The President said, in a statement congratulating Chief John Oyegun on his 80th birthday that the former chairman provided “visionary leadership to unseat an incumbent government for the first time in Nigeria’s history.”
Describing him as true example of a patriot and democrat, in the statement by the special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President, commended him on the milestone he had achieved.
He recalled that Chief John Oyegun’s achievements include turning a Permanent Secretary at the age of 30, winning a gubernatorial election in early 50s, and providing visionary leadership to unseat an incumbent government for the first time in Nigeria’s history.
President Buhari said that John Oyegun, who also served as chairman of the defunct All Nigeria’s Peoples Party (ANPP), had set a standard for consistency, honesty and integrity in Nigeria’s politics.
“He championed building of strong democratic institutions, and promoted the virtue of looking beyond elections and positions to growing and unifying the nation for posterity.”
The President stressed that Chief Oyegun’s depth of wisdom, maturity, tolerance and penchant for always putting the interest of the nation above self should serve as a lesson to both old and younger political actors.
According to him, such trait of characters, including a personal sacrifice are the greatest investment for building a nation.
