I Was 42 Years Old When I Left Office In 1979…Why I Joined 1999 Presidential Race-Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that he left office as Military Head of State in 1979 at the age of 42 and was still young, energetic, and dynamic, hence his decision to venture into farming business.

He also talked about his ‘prison time’ during the late General Sani Abacha administration and reasons why he joined the 1999 presidential race.

Chief Obasanjo’s  Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi noted in a statement he issued on Friday that the former president said this while hosting some young people under the umbrella of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation.

10 winners of the prestigious and impactful Future Africa Leaders Awards were members of the delegation.

‘I joined the army and retired at 42, but I was still young, energetic, and dynamic. So, I took up agriculture. During that time, I was imprisoned, something I didn’t want.

 Going to prison is a challenge, but I ended up there because I refused to keep quiet. For me, if there was something to comment on, I spoke out, and that landed me in prison.

When I came out, the situation in the country was so dire that some people felt it needed saving, and pressure mounted on me to intervene’ Chief Obasanjo said.

Commenting on Africa’s rising debt burden, Chief Obasanjo criticized the recklessness and corruption attendant with many debts citing a Nigerian state where a loan was taken for a carpet industry that never materialized, yet the loan in question was repaid.

He praised the founder of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome for his consistent efforts in empowering African youths since 2013.

What Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has been doing is marvelous. Some may see it as a drop in the ocean, but many drops make the ocean.

I am very pleased with this project and wish him continued success’ he said.

Chief Obasanjo urged the award winners to embrace their roles as leaders, saying, ‘Carry the torch and spread it. You are the leaders of
today, not tomorrow. Take positive, disruptive action to make a difference’.

The Star Prize winner of the 2024 edition, Julian New Ariori from the Republic of Benin, who thanked Chief Obasanjo on behalf of her fellow winners, noted that the tour of the Presidential Library offered valuable insight and exposure to the visiting team.

Participants also came from Libya, Morocco, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, South Sudan, Malawi, Egypt, Cameroon, Togo, Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda, and Burkina Faso, with Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe, Head of Media and Government Relations for the Foundation, serving as the group’s chaperone-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you