National News 
Obasanjo lauds Jawara
Monday, 25 October 2010 00:00 By Andrew Iro Okungbowa News - National
FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday commended former President of The Gambia, Dawuda Jawara for his performance while in office.
He spoke at the presentation of the autobiography Kairaba of Jawara in Lagos yesterday at the Akwabba 2010 – Africa Travel Market. While formally presenting the book, Obasanjo poured encomiums on Jawara, a man he described in glowing terms as his elder brother, a man of many virtues and sterling qualities who devoted his life to the actualisation of democracy for his country and good life for his people.
Obasanjo revealed how glad he was that the book was being presented in Nigeria and that he had the opportunity of doing so, as he had in the month of April missed the opportunity to present the book in The Gambia when he was first invited to the first ever public presentation of the book.
“I did say then that I hope he has the opportunity to present the book in Nigeria and I am happy that the opportunity has presented itself,’’ Obasanjo said, adding that “before I formally present this book I have to say a little thing about what I personally know about President Dawuda Jawara.’’
Obasanjo relived his various encounters with Jawara and spoke about their joint effort at working on ECOWAS and the Commonwealth among others.
“For a short while when I was the Military Head of State and he was the elected President of The Gambia, we worked together at the ECOWAS and we worked together at the Commonwealth and I found him a brother, an elder brother, a counsellor, an adviser and a companion,’’ he said.