… Says Imprisonment Under Abacha Proved Price of Principled Leadership
Daud Olatunji
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed circulating reports claiming he issued a notice of his death, describing the claims as “fabrications by never-do-wells.”
The 89-year-old statesman while speaking during his 89th birthday celebrations in Abeokuta, Ogun State, reacted on Wednesday to an article trending on social media and messaging platforms suggesting he had penned a final memoir signaling the end of his life.
The report read in part: “Listen and read former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest memoirs… it’s just like a final memoir about life.”
Addressing the rumours in Abeokuta, Obasanjo affirmed that God had assured him of longevity and that those who wished him harm would face divine justice.
“For my final note in this address, I want to point your attention to the work of some never-do-wells. They publish and circulate a fake paper credited to me, claiming that I am writing and giving notice of my death. That is their wish and surely not God’s wish for me,” Obasanjo said.
He added, “God has assured me that He has more for me to do on earth, and He has given me the wherewithal to do it. And those who wish otherwise are going to be dealt with by God Himself. I dey kampe as usual. God bless.”
Obasanjo’s clarification comes amid heightened social media activity, where misinformation about prominent public figures has become increasingly widespread.
… Obasanjo: Imprisonment Under Abacha Proved Price of Principled Leadership
Meanwhile, Obasanjo, has described his imprisonment by the late military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, as a testament to the personal cost of taking principled stands in leadership.
Speaking during his birthday celebrations in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo reflected on decades of public service, spanning military command, incarceration, and democratic governance.
The elder statesman delivered the keynote address at an international colloquium titled “Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World,” highlighting the moral responsibilities that come with power.
Recalling his role as Commander of the Third Marine Commando Division during the Nigerian Civil War, Obasanjo said leadership often requires solitary decisions whose outcomes affect millions.
He recounted his choice to exercise restraint in the war’s final days in 1970 to avoid civilian casualties, describing it as an example of the ethical weight leaders bear.
“Leadership is both a heavy burden and a profound blessing,” Obasanjo said. “My imprisonment under Abacha was evidence of the price that can accompany principled positions.”
He also pointed to Nigeria’s historic first peaceful transfer of power from military to civilian rule in 1979, when he handed over to President Shehu Shagari, as one of his most fulfilling moments.
On the broader African landscape, Obasanjo urged governments to address governance failures that continue to hinder the continent’s development.
“Africa remains richly endowed with natural and human resources, yet weak institutions, corruption, and self-serving leadership persist,” he said.
He called for investments in leadership training, institutional strengthening, and democratic accountability, emphasizing that lasting progress depends on systems, not individuals.
Obasanjo also highlighted the importance of engaging the African diaspora, describing it as an underutilized asset capable of accelerating continental renewal.
He praised continental integration efforts, including the African Continental Free Trade Area, as transformative initiatives that could boost trade, attract investment, and enhance Africa’s competitiveness globally.
Concluding his address, the former president urged the younger generation to embrace service-driven leadership. “Africa is not a problem to be managed. Africa is a promise to be fulfilled — and leadership is how that promise gets kept,” he said.
The birthday celebrations will conclude on Thursday with a lecture titled “The Global African Enlightenment from Chains to Renaissance” by Amb. Jean Robert Pillard, Haiti’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, followed by a reception at the OOPL in Abeokuta.
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