From Joseph Asegba, Yola
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has recalled his twenty five years experience and ordeal and of three years while in Yola prison.
The former President made known during the official commissioning of the Jimeta Grade interchange in Yola the Adamawa state capital.
He said, “My experience twenty five years ago and three years in Yola prison was an inpiratious thoughtful, the years made an impact on me.
According to him, in all situation, I was able to make history out it. so also that if you go to my national library, you will see what I have achieved in Yola prison and the entire Yola.
While speaking, the former President also recalled his best friend in his life time, late Ahmed Joda of blessed memory.
He said, ” In my life time I never believe there will be a flyover or under fly in Yola but Fintiri has made it happened.
Chief Obasanjo also noted that Nigeria needed this modernity now than before as every fact that the nation to grow and modernises, he therefore commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for taking the bull by the horn.
He further changed Fintiri to provide more developmental giant stride for in him to be in the book of Genueness as a developer.
On security, former President called that Fintiris’ development in the city be extended to rural and other urban centers this will take care of everything, so that when those affected by Boko Haram go back to various homes so that they will farm harvest food for the country.
He however described the day as significant and memorable to him thanked governor Fintiri for choosing him to commission the Grade Interchange.
He noted that despite the negative antics, democracy has come to stay in Nigeria adding that with landmark strides like the one he witnessed in Adamawa, democracy will continue to grow from strength to strength expressing optimism that democracy will be unstoppable.
“People will say we have not yet achieved anything, but we have not derailed and we shall not derailed,” he said.
Obasanjo thanked Fintiri for instituting the first grade interchange in northeastern part of Nigeria urging Adamawa people to continue to accord his administration all the support it needed to give them more dividends of democracy.
While speaking earlier, governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri noted that the landmark project was a product of hard work, frugality, commitment and dedication adding that when he started constructing the grade interchange, a skeptic accused him of digging a big hole at the center of the city.
“This is one project with a short but interesting story. Like most of our projects, when we did the groundbreaking ceremony, skeptics went wild with their usual doubts – “It cannot be done”.
“Someone had the guts to tell me that I was digging a pit at the center of the city without the knowledge of how I am going to fill it. To the glory of God, today, it is not only done, but done excellently and on record time.
“This is perhaps, the fastest delivered project of its kind in this part of the world. To those skeptics who doubted its completion, I invite you to continue to enjoy what only vision, courage and commitment can accomplish,” he said.
Also commending Fintiri for his vision, a former governor of the state, Bala Nggilari said Adamawa State has witnessed monumental and remarkable changes since the coming of governor Fintiri’s administration.
He noted that the feat will definitely bring investors into the state because investors are usually attracted by the infrastructural development they see on ground expressing optimism that Fintiri has a long way to go in national politics.