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Tag: Olusegun Obasanjo

  • I Have Been Managing Diabetes For 35 Years – Obasanjo

    I Have Been Managing Diabetes For 35 Years – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he has been living and managing diabetes for the past 35 years.

    He disclosed this on Wednesday during the closing ceremony of the Ogun State Diabetes Youth Development Camp held in Abeokuta.

    The camp, which was organised by Talabi Diabetes Centre, trained 21 children living with type-1 diabetes in the state on how to manage the disease.

    Obasanjo advised the participants to manage the ailment well by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, insisting that diabetes is not a killer disease.

    He urged them to monitor the type of food they take and completely abstain from sugar.

    “I have been diagnosed with diabetes for more than 35 years now and here I am, I’m still going about, I’m still jumping up and down, I’m still doing many things many people of my age cannot do,” he said.

    “It does not matter whether you are type one or type two. So far, there is no cure for diabetes. Maybe there will be a cure before I die, but I pray that there will be a cure before you die.”

    While noting that some of his friends had succumbed to the disease, Obasanjo attributed the development to a lack of management of the disease.

    “Don’t miss your drugs, in your own case, your insulin injection. I take my drugs along with me everywhere I go and I always check my blood sugar level regularly. Don’t let anybody put fear in your minds, diabetes, has no cure for now, but it can be managed,” Obasanjo told the participants.

  • OBJ commissions 1km flyover in A’Ibom, counsels Gov Emmanuel on successor

    OBJ commissions 1km flyover in A’Ibom, counsels Gov Emmanuel on successor

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom to ensure that a good successor that would continue with his development strides is elected in the state in 2023.

    Obasanjo who gave the advice while inaugurating a 1km flyover at Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo, on Friday, said having a good successor was even more important than having a successful administration since a good succession plan is part of the success of any government.

    “Your success does not stop with your economic and social development to your people, but it would be measured by your succession because success without a good a succession is hollow.

    “I pray and pray again that you would have a good successor.” The former President said.

    He praised Emmanuel for not letting him, and those who supported his second term ambition down, and for not disappointing the people of the state who voted for him to return to office in 2019.

    Obasanjo said the Ikm flyover built by the state government was a project worth celebrating any where in the world; stressing that the governor was good in managing resources because of his previous background.

    He described himself as a lucky man to have the flyover built along Olusegun Obasanjo Way, a road previously named after him in 2016 by Victor Attah administration.

    On his part, Gov Emmanuel said the execution of the project was a not a show of affluence but prudence in the management of the increasing dwindling resources adding that a little more than $1 billion was shared to the more 200 million Nigerians in the last federation account.

    ” When people see us commission projects like this, they think we have money. We don’t because it is now extremely difficult for some governors to even pay salaries. So we are not celebrating excess wealth but a result of creativity.” He said.

    The Governor also said with the advent of dry season coming presently, his administration would kickstart the inauguration of several dual carriage roads such as Ikot Ekpene-Uyo Road and Eket remodeling project.

    The state commissioner for works, Prof Eno Ibanga explained that the project commenced on July 15, 2019 and since it was billed to be completed in two years, the state had even surpassed the deadline because COVID-19 had disrupted its progress for several months.

  • Nigeria Filled With Bitterness And Sadness – Obasanjo

    Nigeria Filled With Bitterness And Sadness – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria is dripping with bitterness and sadness.

    This, he argued, is contrary to what God destined the country to be.

    According to him, God has created Nigeria to be a land flowing with milk and honey.

    He spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the unveiling of a book authored by Femmy Carrena in his honour and titled “The Man, The General, The President”.

    The book was reviewed by emeritus Prof. Michael Abiola Omolewa, a former Chairperson of UNESCO, and the review was read at the event by Ndidi Amaka – Okafor.

    Obasanjo noted that Nigeria has been destined to lead the black race, but “failure of leadership” has impeded the country from taking its place in the comity of developed nations.

    To put Nigeria on the right path, the former President said education must take the forefront.

    According to him, over 14 million out-of-school children must be returned to school.

    He said, “My prayer is that all of us particularly in this country and now is that we will have something to contribute to make this country to the making of what God has created it to be; a land flowing with milk and honey.

    “Right now, it is a land flowing with bitterness and sadness. That is not what God wants this country to be.

    “We must change the narrative. We must talk to ourselves in the civilized language.

    “Anywhere you go in this country that you will not see a genius in any section of the country.

    “So, for what reason should we look down on ourselves or others except we are not human beings.”

    Daily Trust reports that the book was facilitated by Dr Taiwo Olayinka Afolabi, the Vice Chairman/CEO SIFAX Group Limited and was donated to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) and all federal tertiary institutions nationwide.

  • Obasanjo lauds Kogi Gov Bello for good governance, tackling insecurity

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on his efforts in providing security, good governance, and infrastructure building in the state.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Kogi governor, Mr Mohammed Onogwu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Onogwu, who quoted Obasanjo as making the commendation when he met with the governor on Sunday in Abuja, added that the former president urged him to sustain the efforts.

    He stated that the meeting between Bello and the former president ended with fruitful discussion.

    Obasanjo while commending Bello for successfully tackling insecurity in the state, said Kogi was central to the nation’s development.

    He urged the governor to sustain his efforts in providing security for his state, noting that Kogi was central to the nation’s peace and development.

    The former president noted that the fight against insecurity should have everybody on board, stressing that governors should involve everyone to ensure insecurity is curtailed in Nigeria.

    Obasanjo appreciated the governor for his developmental efforts in the state especially in the areas of youth and women inclusion in politics and governance, infrastructure, health and education.

    He further urged the governor to continue to be an advocate for youth involvement in governance.

    Responding, Bello thanked the former president for his statesman’s role, fatherly disposition and wealth of wisdom which the young leaders are privileged to tap from.

    The governor noted that though his state was surrounded by 10 other states and the FCT making it the nexus between the South and North, West and East of Nigeria, Kogi, one of the 19 Northern States, stands in stoic defence against criminal elements.

    This, he said, had made Kogi one of the safest states in the country.

    Bello assured Obasanjo that he would not relent in the fight to ensure total safety for his people and will continue to do his best to ensure his electoral promises are fulfilled.

    The governor prayed that God would continue to protect the statesman and grant him good health and long life.