Immediate past President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has paid glowing tribute to former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as he marked his 89th birthday, describing him as a courageous leader, defender of justice and a guiding voice for Africa and the world.

In a birthday message celebrating the elder statesman, Adesina praised Obasanjo as a leader whose influence transcends generations and national borders, noting that his credibility and moral authority remain widely respected.

According to Adesina, Obasanjo has consistently demonstrated courage in speaking truth to power and engaging boldly in national and global debates.

“He steps boldly into the battlefields of ideas and argument, unafraid to speak, unafraid to stand, and unafraid to be counted,” Adesina said, emphasizing the former president’s unwavering commitment to truth, equity and justice.

The AfDB former president also described Obasanjo as a disciplined thinker and decisive leader whose voice often becomes crucial in moments of national and international crisis.

“When conflict rises and storms gather over nations, the world turns to voices of wisdom — and among those voices uniquely stands President Obasanjo,” he said.

Adesina further highlighted Obasanjo’s legacy as a soldier who experienced the horrors of war but later emerged as a promoter of peace, reconciliation and dialogue.

Drawing on a Yoruba proverb about the responsibility of elders to protect the young, Adesina said Obasanjo represents the ideal elder who not only warns but actively helps society correct its course.

He described the former president as “an elder among elders,” a reconciler of differences and a defender of the weak.

Beyond his public roles, Adesina portrayed Obasanjo as a father figure to many across Nigeria, Africa and the wider world, referring to him as “the Baba of Africa” whose wisdom continues to guide younger generations.

“As you turn 89, we celebrate not only the years you have lived but the lives you have touched, the conflicts you have calmed and the courage you have inspired,” Adesina said, praying for continued strength, health and vitality for the former president.

Olusegun Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and later as a democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007, remaining one of Africa’s most influential political figures and elder statesmen.

He turned 89 yesterday, Wednesday, March 4, 2026.