It’s sad my parents left this world too early – Olusegun Obasanjo

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, took a retrospective look at his life as he clocked 81 years on Monday, and lamented that his parents did not live long enough to reap the fruits of their labour on him. He noted that it was “sad and regrettable” that despite the sacrifices they made on him, they did not live long to also share and be part of his success story.

He spoke to a gathering of eminent Nigerians and foreigners who came to felicitate with him on his birthday celebration held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.


Obasanjo has had the rare opportunity of ruling Nigeria as a military head of state and a  two-term civilian president.

He said, “One of the things that I always missed or remember with some feeling of sadness is that my parents left this world too early and that the sacrifices they have made for me, how I wish they have been around to see the fruit of their labour, that is not to be.

“But if, as Yoruba believe that those who are dead are still able to see those who are here alive, if my parents, where they are,  are able to see those of us who are here, they will also be grateful to those who have worked with me to enable me to achieve what, if they’ve been alive, they would have been proud of as my achievements.”

Obasanjo equally lamented the failure of leadership in Nigeria and Africa, arguing that God had not created bad situation for either Nigeria or Africa.