Tinubu calls for return of history to school curriculums

All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has made a strong case for the return of History as a subject in the country's school curriculum, saying any nation which forgets its past has lost a beacon to guide its actions.

Tinubu's call came in a short remark after reviewing the book, entitled Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday.

He said the removal of History as a subject to be taught in Nigerian schools was disturbing, and lamented that the move would cut off younger generations of Nigerians from learning about the nation's history and tradition as well as past mistakes.

He said: "If countries, including United States of America, teach their students about their histories, why not Nigeria, with its rich history and tradition? History helps a people to connect with the past and learn from past pitfalls."

He described the book, written by Professor John N. Paden, which is an authorised biography of President Buhari, as an important one.

According to the APC leader, the book attempts a broad characterisation of the different stages of President Buhari's life and professional career.

Tinubu said: "The book explores how his professional career, his personal life and prior experiences in government shaped and prepared him for the momentous assignment he now has.

"From the book's pages, we see a man who has lived his life on assignments that always intersected with vital moments in the nation's history. He was a man on assignment, when, in the military, he served bravely in a civil war to keep Nigeria united.

"He was on national assignment when he became military head of state in a well-intentioned effort to straighten things out, and set Nigeria on a better path.

"When he ventured into politics and competed for the Presidency, culminating in his 2015 election victory, he was still on assignment, showing that there was no other way for this nation to go but the way of democracy, no matter how difficult the path may be."

Asiwaju Tinubu was one of the four reviewers of the book. Others were former US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador John Campbell; defunct ANPP Chairman and Science and Technology Minister, Chief Ogbonanya Onu; and former External Affairs Minister, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.