He said his late mother merely told him she gave birth to him on a market day.
Mr. Obasanjo said this on Thursday at the 2017 International Youth Variety Day and Public Presentation of Olusegun Obasanjo’s Books for Children, as part of programmes for his 80th birthday.
The programme, organised by the Centre for Human Security, with the theme “Presidential Libraries Will Reduce Leadership Deficit in Africa”, held at theater hall of the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
Mr. Obasanjo said while growing up, he had the challenge of knowing his real date of birth, because his parents were illiterates.
“At early stage in my life, I had the challenge of knowing my date of birth, and my peers always asked, while in return I persisted in asking my mother, who was an illiterate and had no records,” he said.
The former president added that when he continued to pressure his mother, the information he was given by his was that she gave birth to him on an Ifo village market day.
“When I continued to put pressure on my mother, she told me that she was preparing to go to market on the said day, and went into labour, and before others could return from the market, she had given birth to me,” Mr. Obasanjo said.
The former leader said he arrived at his current age when he considered the ages of some of his peers at the time.
“I’m not as lucky as some of my peers who know the dates of their birth. What matters to me is that I have chosen a date. If I don’t even know the exact date of my birth, at least I know my age group,” he emphasised.
The former president also spoke about morality in the society, lamenting that the era of genuine morality was fading, but needed to be revived in the interest of all and sundry.
“When we were growing up, if people doubt the source of your wealth, you will be ostracised. If your father goes out every night, the conclusion would be that your father is a thief, and if a family is seen and known to have engaged in crimes, the community will keep its distance from such family. All those values are gone, and how do we bring them back?” he said.
On the Presidential Library, Mr. Obasanjo said its benefits would be for both the young and the old.
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Mr. Obasanjo said this on Thursday at the 2017 International Youth Variety Day and Public Presentation of Olusegun Obasanjo’s Books for Children, as part of programmes for his 80th birthday.
The programme, organised by the Centre for Human Security, with the theme “Presidential Libraries Will Reduce Leadership Deficit in Africa”, held at theater hall of the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
Mr. Obasanjo said while growing up, he had the challenge of knowing his real date of birth, because his parents were illiterates.
“At early stage in my life, I had the challenge of knowing my date of birth, and my peers always asked, while in return I persisted in asking my mother, who was an illiterate and had no records,” he said.
The former president added that when he continued to pressure his mother, the information he was given by his was that she gave birth to him on an Ifo village market day.
“When I continued to put pressure on my mother, she told me that she was preparing to go to market on the said day, and went into labour, and before others could return from the market, she had given birth to me,” Mr. Obasanjo said.
The former leader said he arrived at his current age when he considered the ages of some of his peers at the time.
“I’m not as lucky as some of my peers who know the dates of their birth. What matters to me is that I have chosen a date. If I don’t even know the exact date of my birth, at least I know my age group,” he emphasised.
The former president also spoke about morality in the society, lamenting that the era of genuine morality was fading, but needed to be revived in the interest of all and sundry.
“When we were growing up, if people doubt the source of your wealth, you will be ostracised. If your father goes out every night, the conclusion would be that your father is a thief, and if a family is seen and known to have engaged in crimes, the community will keep its distance from such family. All those values are gone, and how do we bring them back?” he said.
On the Presidential Library, Mr. Obasanjo said its benefits would be for both the young and the old.
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So who fixed the March 5,1937 being celebrated?Na wah.
😂😂😂😂
ReplyDeleteFunny Headline. And this his picture be cracking me up.
It wil be fun to live with this man. I will just be laughing and laughing. All day long😂😂😂
At least he's alive and well, that alone is worth celebrating.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to us in advance.
Im 100% sure that obasanjo is older than Robert Mugabe...hes like 96..
ReplyDeleteWe all know Chief Obasanjo is older than his official age, more years with sound health to him
ReplyDelete*Larry was here*
Amen.
DeleteThings dey ooo... sitting with legs crossed and hands on my chin
ReplyDeleteAs if he knows the exact date of his death
ReplyDeleteWhy is he saying it today?
ReplyDeleteIts normal. Most people at that time just assume the ages of their school mates. Na so we de dash my grandma age till we took her to the hospital for normal checkup and the doctor did MRI and found out that she was not even close to that age we were giving her sef. lol.
ReplyDeleteStella bring your ears let me whisper to you "the Gods Fixed march 5 1937 as baba birthday" whipers continues"do not say I told you"
ReplyDeleteDoes he know when churchill was born?
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahahahahahah!
ReplyDeleteThat's baba for you saying it as it is.
He had to pick a date for himself naw atleast if for nothing but for official purposes.
So touching, I thank God for your life Sir.
ReplyDeleteWhat of Buhari?
ReplyDeletehahahaha dem plenty self. Like my mama self, she will tell you August, ok na december, anyone she pick we go wish her so.
ReplyDeleteAt times we go ask her junior brother to tell us when they born all of them.
I kinda suspected this all along.....Nigeria is such a funny place
ReplyDeleteYeah.. there are lot of people like that.
ReplyDelete