FORMER President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has dismissed rumours about his death, declaring that at 89, he remains strong and healthy and has no plans of dying anytime soon.
Obasanjo said in a statement on Wednesday, March 4, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while delivering a colloquium, titled, ‘Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World,’ organised as part of activities marking his 89th birthday on Thursday, March 5, condemned those circulating a fake letter suggesting he had written about his own death, describing it as the handiwork of mischief makers.
The former head of state between 1976 and 1983,
said those spreading the false report were only wasting their time, as God still has more assignments for him on earth.
He stated: “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. I dey kampe as usual.”
Obasanjo said Africa is richly endowed with natural and human resources, but continues to struggle with poverty, conflict, disease and insecurity due to the failure of leaders to govern selflessly and build strong institutions.
He lamented that many leaders come into office with promises of reform, but end up serving personal, family and political interests, while weakening democratic institutions, insisting that true leadership requires courage, accountability, justice and a commitment to the common good.
Reflecting on the burdens of leadership, from personal experiences, including his imprisonment under the late military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, Obasanjo recalled difficult decisions he took during the Nigerian civil war and his time as President from 1999 to 2007, noting that leadership often comes with loneliness, moral responsibility and personal sacrifice.
He stressed that inspite of the challenges, leadership as a blessing when it is used to make positive change, underscoring his achievements, such as Nigeria’s Paris Club debt relief and establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to fight corruption.
The elder statesman charged young Africans to take democracy seriously and prepare themselves for responsible leadership, saying a continent that fails its youth risks planting seeds of instability for future generations.
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