‘I will not die soon’, Obasanjo declares at 89th birthday colloquium on leadership

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that he will not die soon, dismissing the circulation of a purported “last wish” allegedly authored by him and describing it as the handiwork of mischief makers.

Obasanjo made the declaration on Wednesday in Abeokuta during a colloquium organised as part of activities marking his 89th birthday, where he delivered a lecture titled Burden and Blessing of Leadership. The former president addressed issues relating to leadership, Africa’s development, youth and the challenges of holding public office.

Reacting to the document circulating online, Obasanjo insisted that the claim was false and maintained that his time on earth was not yet over.

“I want to point your attention to the work of some never-do-well. They publish and circulate a fake paper credited to me that I am writing, giving notice of my death. That is their wish and surely not God’s wish for me. God has assured me that He has more for me to do on earth, and He has given me the wherewithal to do it… I dey kampe as usual,” he said.

Speaking on Africa’s development challenges, Obasanjo said the continent’s underdevelopment was largely the result of leadership failure, noting that many leaders often prioritise personal interests over the welfare of their citizens.

According to him, Africa possesses enormous natural resources that should ordinarily make it a continent of prosperity, peace and global influence, but poor governance has instead left many countries grappling with poverty, insecurity and conflict.

He also stressed the need to nurture leaders with strong values and integrity, warning that a continent that fails to empower and guide its youth risks sowing the seeds of instability for future generations.

Reflecting on the challenges of leadership, Obasanjo described the position as lonely and demanding, recalling the difficult decisions he faced during the Nigerian Civil War and later as Nigeria’s elected president in 1999 after years of military rule.