Northern govs hail Abdulsalami at 71

THE Northern States Governors Forum on Wednesday poured encomiums on former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who turns 71 years old on Thursday.
They described the former Nigerian leader as the father of the nation’s democracy.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, expressed the body’s birthday wishes in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo.
The forum said at 71, Abdulsalami had remained the reference point on good governance, diplomacy, and conflict resolution, not only in Nigeria but the world over.
The statement read, “The forum was proud of Abdulsalami’s landmark achievements and remarkable leadership qualities, which he has wonderfully exhibited in accelerating the growth and development of Nigeria and the African continent as a whole.”
It made reference to the former leader’s dogged commitment to the nation’s democracy, as symbolised by the handing over of power to democratically elected civilian government in 1999.
“We are equally proud of General Abdulsalami as our ambassador of peace beyond Niger State and Nigeria, especially his intervention as the head of the United Nations Missions to Congo Kinshasa in the year 2000, Sudan and Chad in 2004 and the restoration of peace in those countries,” the statement added.