By Udesinanna Stephen
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, on his birthday, saying that “he connected the country to its roots and led it forward in the restoration of democracy.”
This was made known in a statement published on the Twitter handle of the Spokesman to Buhari, Garba Shehu, @GarShehu.
According to Garba, Buhari spoke to the Ex-Head of State in a phone call.
Buhari described General Abdulsalami as “someone who had connected the country to its roots and led it forward in the restoration of democracy as a form of government.”
He noted, “Buhari greeted Abdulsalami Abubakar, his predecessor in office on his birthday, calling him the true father of the Fourth Republic and Nigeria’s modern-day democracy.
“His farsighted leadership, Nigeria emerged as a continental power and he, General Abdulsalami has distinguished himself as a global leader.
“I wish him good health and a long life,” said the former President.
Abdulsalami Abubakar is a retired Nigerian army General who succeeded General Sani Abacha upon his death, and served as the military Head Of State of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999. He was also Chief of Defense Staff from 1997 to 1998.