*Obasanjo, Babangida give reason for absence
*Send representatives on nation’s most significant Day
*Saraki, Dogara attend event of govt they don’t support – Respondents
*Say Obasanjo, Babangida’s excuses are flimsy
*Buhari’s genuine national reconciliation has commenced – Nigerians
One of them said, “While I would quickly want to say that OBJ and IBB’s apologies are unacceptable to us, let me also comment that if the honour of today has compulsorily required NASS approval, Saraki and Dogora would not allow it to happen” as, according to him, “they would have truncated it because, as contenders also for 2019 with intent to discredit Buhari from continuing, they would not have wanted to give him the opportunity of boosted popularity that President Muhammadu Buhari has added to his already indelible popularity today.”
The Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, respectively, shunned the maiden occasion of celebration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, held at the Banqueath Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.
The occasion, attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan and others, was held mainly mark the June 12 celebration this year and the investitures of Late Alhaji Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe and Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
Saraki and Dogara’s conspicuous absence was just as President Muhammadu Buhari’s major opponents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babamasi Babangida’s apologies were read for not being able to attend.
Reasons for the two topmost leaders of the two chambers of the Nigeria’s National Assembly were not given.
The event was attended also by other top government functionaries, governors, former governors, ministers, former ministers, members of National Assembly, families of the honourees, members of the media and civil society communities.
Some of the Respondents who agreed to speak though on condition of anonymity to The DEFENDER at the event believe that, no matter the excuses the duo of top lawmakers, Babangida and Obasanjo would give, they would always be judged as shunning the event because they have not in anyway supported the government of the President inviting them.
One of them said, “While I would quickly want to say that OBJ and IBB’s apologies are unacceptable to us, let me also comment that if the honour of today has compulsorily required NASS approval, Saraki and Dogora would not allow it to happen” as, according to him, “they would have truncated it because, as contenders also for 2019 with intent to discredit Buhari from continuing, they would not have wanted to give him the opportunity of boosted popularity that President Muhammadu Buhari has added to his already indelible popularity today.”
Some other Nigerians in their general comments have praised President Buhari’s decision to be the first Nigeria’s President to be interested in true national unity through final resolution of June 12 related matters.
Noting that with what Buhari has done, “Nigerian national reconciliation has commenced, the citizens promised in their chats with The DEFENDER in Abuja that they would be ready to stand by the President not only to continue in 2019 but also to ensure that they support him in completing the great job he has commenced.
