I Have Been Battling a 'Serious Illness' for the Past 30 Years - Ex-President Obasanjo Reveals

Ex-president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday revealed that he has been battling Diabetes Mellitus for the past 30 years. He stated this shortly after a two kilometre awareness walk from the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library through the MKO Abiola way, in Abeokuta.


The walk was organized by the Southwest Zone of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria in conjunction with the Library to celebrate the 2017 World Diabetes Day, according to The Tribune.

He said that the disease only kills those who are careless with how they manage it.

“Diabetes is not a disease that should kill. I was diagnosed to be diabetic more than 30 years ago but rather, I am growing strong, if you don’t believe I am growing strong and you didn’t witness this walk, come and see me at night, you will know I am growing strong, come and see me in the morning, you will know I am growing, even in the afternoon, you will know I am growing strong.

“What is necessary is the management of diabetes. Some people said some diseases are incurable, but diabetes is manageable.

“My headmaster in primary school was diagnosed at the age of 50 and died at age 85, you will agree with me that he tried.

“What to do is that if you’re diabetic, don’t be nonchalant about it and don’t eat carelessly. Three things are important; the food you eat, regular exercise and prescribed medication, those are the three most important things.

“You can be diabetic and still lives till 100. I don’t know when I would die but I am above 80 and many of the youth could not catch up with my pace during the exercise this morning, many of them were running after me.

“This is my message. Whether you’re diabetic or you have a family or friend with diabetic, diabetes is not a killer disease or it should not be a killer disease unless you are careless,” Obasanjo said.