Buhari congratulates THIS special man with 80th birthday
– Tam David-West, the former federal minister, academic and social critic, has turned 80 today
– President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the deeply respected senior
Tamunoemi Sokari David-West
In a statement released by Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, President Muhammadu Buhari has warmly congratulated eminent academic and former federal minister, Prof. Tamunoemi Sokari David-West as he has turned 80 years on August 26, 2016.
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It reads in part: “On this special birthday anniversary, President Buhari recalls, with fond memories, his long term relationship with the elder statesman, when he served as Minister of Petroleum, 1984-1985.
The president commends Prof. David-West’s steadfastness and forthrightness on issues of good governance, democracy, human rights and the unity of Nigeria, especially when some seem to easily give up on the project of building one great nation.
President Buhari assures the octogenarian that his place in Nigeria’s history is guaranteed for the statesmanship, fearlessness, intellectual depth, resourcefulness and versatility that he brought into public discourse.
The president prays that the almighty God will continue to grant the former minister good health and more fruitful years of service to his fatherland.”
Historical background
David-West served in Nigerian government as commissioner of education and a member of the Executive Council of Rivers State (1975–1979), as a member of the fifty-person Constitution Drafting Committee for the Federal Military Government of General Murtala Muhammed (1979), as federal minister of petroleum and energy under GeneralMuhammadu Buhari (1984–1985), and as minister of mines, power, and steel under General Ibrahim Babangida (1986).
He was eventually removed as minister and arrested by the Babangida regime for allegedly contributing to the economic adversity of the country. He was discharged and acquitted of these charges by Nigeria’s Special Appeal Court on 8 August 1991.
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David-West has been an outspoken and controversial critic of Nigerian government policy since his purge and arrest under the military regime of General Babangida.
David-West criticized the unconstitutionality of the advisory council established by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010, and he voiced caution against government unreservedly opening its doors to United States intelligence.
Although he is not affiliated with any political party, David-West supported Chibuike Amaechi of the right-wing-leaning People’s Democratic Party for reelection as governor of Rivers State.
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