Presidency Wednesday night said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo received invitation for the celebration of Democracy Day on June 12. Recall that there was no former President or past Head of State that attended the Democracy Day that had over 20 world leaders and members of the Diplomatic Corps in attendance at Eagle Square, Abuja.

Former President Obasanjo was quoted to have said that he did not receive any invitation for the ceremony. But the Presidency in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu in Abuja said that the former President cannot sustain his claims that he did not receive any invitation.

According to him, “The former President, Mr Olusegun Obasanjo, owes an answer to Nigerians on his absence from the 2019 Presidential inauguration and Democracy Day celebration because the claim that he was not invited or he did not receive an invitation cannot be sustained.

“Since the claim was first made, elements in the polity that have deliberately and consistently been trying to lead the country toward polarization have cashed in on it, throwing all manner of rubbish at the Buhari Presidency.

“The fact remains that Secretary to the Government, Mr Boss Mustapha wrote on May 16th, 2019 to: “His Excellency, Mr 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 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, long standing Personal Secretary to the former President.

“If, in the circumstance, 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.”

Vanguard