By Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has congratulated former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on his new appointment as the High Representative of the African Union, AU, in the Horn of Africa.
Chairperson of AU, Moussa Mahamat announced the appointment of the ex-president in a statement a few days ago.
The Horn of Africa region covers countries in the eastern region of Africa which include Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda.
Mahamat said that the appointment was to ensure peace, security and political dialogue across the region.
Extolling the ex-president, Governor Abiodun in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said that the new appointment was another milestone in the life of Chief Obasanjo.
He described Obasanjo as a patriotic Nigerian and African citizen, who will bring his wealth of leadership experience into his new assignment.
The governor stressed that the appointment did not come to him as a surprise, given the various interventions and engagements of Chief Obasanjo in several African countries to ensure peace and stability.
He said that the former president had for a long time been involved in the development and progress of Africa through the establishment of the African Leadership Forum, ALF, where African and world leaders exchange ideas.
Governor Abiodun, while expressing his confidence that Obasanjo would excel in his latest assignment, noted that the countries in the Horn of Africa, particularly in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan, would experience political stability and peace.
According to him, with the new appointment, the octogenarian who is an illustrious son of the state and Nigeria’s elder statesman had further proved that the state is blessed with people with leadership traits and integrity.
The governor opined that Obadanjo would bring his rich political experiences and impeccable credentials of keen commitment to the lofty ideals of Pan-Africanism and regional integration and cooperation, as well as a deep knowledge of the current situation in the Horn of Africa, to bare in his new assignment.
He, therefore, prayed God to give Chief Obasanjo good health and wherewithal to excel in his new mandate.