Former Nigerian leaders, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ernest Shonekan combine with former deputies, Ebitu Ukiwe, Alex Ekwueme, Oladipo Diya and current vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo sing a hymn for a greater, united and peaceful Nigeria in 2017.
The song is Isaac Watts hymn, “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past,” with the video recorded early December 2016.
The video will surely give Nigerians the right vibes to begin another year’s journey.
Happy New Year for Nigeria. With celestial help, Nigeria shall surely overcome the present difficulties!.
PROFILE
OLUSEGUN OBASANJO
Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo, GCFR was born on 5 March 1937. He is a former Nigerian Army general who was President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. A Nigerian of Yoruba descent, Obasanjo was a career soldier before serving twice as his nation’s head of state. He served as a military ruler from 13 February 1976 to 1 October 1979, and as a democratically elected president from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. From July 2004 to January 2006, Obasanjo also served as Chairperson of the African Union.
His current home is Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State, where he is a nobleman as the holder of the chieftaincy titles of the Balogun of the Owu Lineage and the Ekerin Balogun of the Egba clan of Yorubaland.
YAKUBU GOWON
General Yakubu “Jack” Dan-Yumma Gowon was born on 19 October 1934. He is the former head of state (Head of the Federal Military Government) of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975.
He took power after one military coup d’état and was overthrown in another. During his rule, the Nigerian government successfully prevented Biafran secession during the 1967–70 Nigerian Civil War.
ERNEST SHONEKAN
Ernest Shonekan was born 9 May 1936 in Lagos. He is a British-trained Nigerian lawyer, industrialist, politician and traditional chieftain. He was appointed as interim president of Nigeria by General Ibrahim Babangida on 26 August 1993.
Babangida resigned under pressure to cede control to a democratic government. Shonekan’s transitional administration only lasted three months, as a palace coup led by General Sani Abacha forcefully dismantled the remaining democratic institutions and brought the government back under military control on 17 November 1993.
ALEX EKWUEME
Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON was born October 21, 1932. He was the first elected Vice-President of Nigeria, in office from 1979 to 1983.
OLADIPO DIYA
Donaldson Oladipo Diya was born on 3 April 1944. He is a retired Lt. General in the Nigerian Army. He was appointed Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985.
As Chief of the General Staff, he was the de facto Vice President of Nigeria during the Sani Abacha military junta from 1994 until he was arrested for treason in 1997.
