I don’t know my real age – Obasanjo speaks ahead of his 80th birthday

I don’t know my real age – Obasanjo speaks ahead of his 80th birthday

Ahead of his 80th birthday celebration, former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday, March 2, said he has no idea what his true age is.

According to him, his late mother merely told him that she gave birth to him on a market day.

Obasanjo made this known while speaking 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.

Obasanjo says he doesn't know his real age

READ ALSO: Obasanjo is not an ordinary man - Ex-Governor reveals why

The programme, organised by the Centre for Human Security, with the theme “Presidential Libraries Will Reduce Leadership Deficit in Africa”, was held at theatre hall of the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

The ex-president said that while growing up, he had the challenge of knowing his real date of birth, because his parents were illiterates.

He said: “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.

“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.”

However, the former leader noted that he arrived at his current age when he considered the ages of some of his peers at the time.

He said: “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.

“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?”