Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has explained why he picked the ex-governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, as the country’s foreign affairs minister in 1999.

Obasanjo said the choice of Lamido as foreign affairs minister became his responsibility because the person who had been anointed to assume the position was close to the former governor.

He disclosed this in his speech as Special Guest of Honour at the launch of Lamido’s book, ‘Be True to Yourself,’ in Abuja on Tuesday.

Obasanjo said Lamido has characteristics which he admired.

According to him, Lamido was one of his ministers who could speak truth to power.

“And when we settled, we decided that my candidate would be the vice president and the chairman’s candidate would be the foreign minister. But then, the chairman’s candidate, who we agreed to be the foreign minister, declined.

“And then, the choice of Lamido as foreign minister became my responsibility. Because I saw him as the closest, or one of the closest, persons to the person who had declined to be the foreign minister.

“Sule Lamido has admirable character, and I admire him. When I appointed the ministers—because I did not want a situation where the minister would do something wrong and I would want to say, “Look, Mr. Minister, thank you, you can go,” and there would be a problem—I said all my ministers should give me undated letters of resignation. Sule Lamido came to me and said, “You appointed me, and I did not ask you to appoint me. You think I will fall?” I acceded to his request. And of course, he didn’t have to give me a letter of resignation, and I had no cause to ask him to give a letter of resignation,” he stated.

In his remarks, Lamido hailed Obasanjo and other dignitaries present at the event.

“I can never find enough words to express my profound gratitude to my boss, my guide, my leader, my inspiration—President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR—for all he has done and is doing for me since 1999.

“Evidence of his love, trust, and confidence in me is clearly manifest in the inspiring foreword he wrote for this book and his physical presence at the launch today.

“Baba, I sincerely and profoundly thank you. May God Almighty endow and bless you with abundant health, wisdom, joy, and well-being,” he stated.