The former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, says he has no regret serving him.
Adesina who spoke at the presentation of his book: Working with Buhari at April’s reading at Uyo Book Club at Watbridge Hotels, Uyo, said he started working for Buhari in 2003 based on his conviction that he was a good man.
Answering a question from one of the members of UBC, Adesina said ‘‘I served a man I loved,’’ noting that many misunderstood him as their President hence the negative comments about him.
He wondered why people he tags: wailing wailers were criticising him having known that Buhari’s soft spot and a man who had formed and showcased his character for the 20 months he ruled as a military Head of State in 80s.
The former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Sun newspapers recalled how Buhari called him on telephone as soon as he was declared the country’s President-elect in 2015 by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, he did not want to serve in any government, but he thought twice how he would fail to work with a man he had promoted over the years.
‘‘As soon as my appointment was announced, I woke up 5 a.m. and started crying. My wife heard my groaning and handed me ointment, thinking I was in pains. I did not want to resign as the Managing Director of Sun newspapers to work in government. I was comfortable working in the private sector. It took me time to decide to serve Buhari,’’ he narrated.
Adesina said though the book sounds prophetic, saying that he wrote on the soft ware of Buhari while other people will write on his hard ware bordering on public policies, macro and micro-economics and foreign policies, among others.
The special guest of honour, Obong Umana Okon Umana, the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Ministry represented by Chief Victor Iyanam commended Adesina for penning a book in honour of his principal whom he loves.
The Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Ekong Sampson said one of the inspiring elements about some young people is wishing to be like Wa Thiongo, Ray Ekpu, Femi Adesina and Nsikak Essien, among other persons.
Sampson noted that while Nigeria is cascading, Uyo Book Club feels the void by introducing reading culture abhorred by many people.
‘‘We will use books to make our society a better place, instead of allowing the country to operate on a visa-less legs,’’ he said.
Earlier, Dr. Udeme Nana, the UBC Founder, had said that the club has signed a contract with Korea-based Media Fuse Dentsu company having presence in 70 countries in the world, hoping that other companies would partner with UBC.
Nana enjoined Adesina to give back to the society by establishing book club in his locality to revive the reading culture among the people particularly the young ones.
The reading atmosphere took a semblance of book trade fair as many authors from Akwa Ibom: Dr. Martin Akpan, Dr. Nestor Udoh, Mr. Anietie Usen, Uboho Bassey, Kufre Etuk, among others, presented copies of their books to Adesina for keeps.
