EXTRA: Birthday cheers to Adeboye but no cheers to Obasanjo from Jonathan

In what is an uncommon occurrence, President Goodluck Jonathan did not felicitate with Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president, on his birthday.

Obasanjo clocked 78 on Thursday and there was neither an official message from Reuben Abati – the special adviser to the president on media and publicity who traditionally issues such statements – nor a congratulatory advert in any newspaper.

Last week when Shehu Shagari, also a former president, celebrated his 90th birthday, not only did the president lead other former heads of states to Sokoto in honour of Shagari, he also released a statement to felicitate with him.

A day to the 73rd birthday of Enoch Adeboye, which coincidentally preceded Obasanjo’s by only three days, Jonathan showered encomiums on the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

“It gives me great pleasure to felicitate with you on the occasion of your 73rd birthday,” read a statement by the president.

“Our administration and the Nigerian nation owe you a debt of gratitude for your prayerful support and the productive spiritual leadership you continue to provide, not just for the millions that constitute the membership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God across the world, but also for the entire body of Christ in Nigeria.

“On a personal level, I have left every meeting with you greatly strengthened and deeply inspired by your steadfast faith and  commitment to the peace, stability, growth and development of our dear nation.”

But Jonathan’s relationship with his benefactor has indeed gone sour, especially as the ex-president’s opposition to his re-election bid is well-documented.

Obasanjo has been very critical of the president in recent times. The height of their disagreement was the allegation of the former president that Jonathan wanted to win the election by hook or crook.

In reaction, the presidency hit back at Obasanjo, saying he was scheming to head an interim government.

Obasanjo soon exited the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) party in a far-from-dignifying manner, handing his membership card to the chairman of the party in his ward and instructing him to tear it into shreds.

What he lost in the attention of the presidency and the PDP, though, he gained some other way, as stalwarts of the opposition party flooded the birthday lecture held in his honour at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun state, on Thursday.