By Pascal Ibe
Claim
An X user, @Shehusky, claimed that the Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu, didn’t greet the ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on his 88th recently.
Verdict
This claim is FALSE. Simple findings indicated that President Tinubu hailed Chief Obasanjo on his birthday via his official X account handle. News organizations in Nigeria also published the birthday wishes by Nigeria’s leader.
Full Text
An X user, @Shehusky, has claimed that the current Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu, failed to greet the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on his 88th birthday recently.
@Shehusky claimed this was a result of political differences between the two in the past.
His words, “Tinubu did not wish former president Obasanjo a happy 88th birthday. Because of political differences. Agbado is a tout. Very petty.”
The post had generated over 23k views and more than 220 reposts.
Background of political differences in the past
It may not be surprising to know that both Tinubu and Obasanjo have had different views on Nigeria’s political space in the last decades.
In 2023, Obasanjo said Bola Tinubu, was too old and tainted by the system to run a complex, crisis-torn country of 210mn people run context in the last Nigeria’s presidential election.
Tinubu rejected the criticism, saying Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi, a man who was “not a political force,” would not cause him to lose sleep. Months before, Tinubu visited Obasanjo at his residence to seek his endorsement.
In 2024, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s failing status under the reign of President Bola Tinubu is “confirmed and glaringly indicated and manifested for every honest person to see.”
He labeled Tinubu as “Baba-go-slow and Emilokan.”
Responding, the Nigerian president criticized Obasanjo’s economic management, claiming the former president’s decisions left the country ill-prepared for future challenges.
Olusegun Obasanjo ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2007.
Verification
A simple check on the official x account of the Nigerian president indicated that Bola Tinubu hailed Chief Obasanjo on his 88th birthday.
Dated 5th March 2025, the birthday message from Tinubu reads, Birthday Tribute to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, on His 88th Birthday
Today, as former President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo turns 88, I pay a special tribute to an extraordinary leader and statesman who has made enormous contributions to Nigeria’s development and whose life for the past six decades is woven deeply into the fabric of Nigeria’s history.
Providence has constantly thrust General Obasanjo to the forefront at critical junctures in Nigeria’s story.
He served the country meritoriously in the Nigerian Army. As a Colonel, fate beckoned on him while commanding the Third Marine Division to receive the instrument of surrender from Col. Philip Effiong, the Biafran Army Commander, signaling the end of Nigeria’s 30-month civil war.
General Obasanjo also made history as the military leader who took over the reins of power following General Murtala Mohammed’s death in 1976. He completed the administration’s transition program and successfully handed power to a civilian regime in 1979.
Twenty years later, in 1999, he emerged as civilian president, freed from prison a year earlier, to herald the rebirth of another democratic dispensation, which recently clocked 25 years and still counting.
During the two eras, General Obasanjo implemented critical policies and reforms and made important decisions that profoundly impacted the lives of many Nigerians. As the head of state, he consistently demonstrated a selfless commitment to national unity, peace, and progress.
Out of office, only a few will deny that the former president continues to wield considerable influence among the political elite at home and is well-regarded abroad, where he is an ambassador of global peace and a troubleshooter. His tireless efforts in conflict resolution, advocacy for good governance, and dedication to Pan-Africanism through institutions like the African Union and the United Nations are testaments to his statesmanship.
Sometimes controversial, former President Obasanjo’s regular interventions in national affairs have helped shape public policies and acted as a check on leadership.
I thank General Obasanjo for his onerous contributions to Nigeria. I commend him for his statesmanship and leadership.
At 88, the former president is still gaining strength. I pray that God Almighty will grant him the grace and strength to live for more years so the nation and Africa can continue to
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Credible news organizations in Nigeria also published the birthday message here and here.
Conclusion
Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, greeted ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo contrary to the claim that he didn’t.
