Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has led about 100 members of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Senior Citizens Club on a 2.5-kilometre fitness walk in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The exercise, held on Saturday, was part of activities organised by the club to promote healthy living and encourage physical activity among older persons.
Obasanjo, who participated in the walk alongside the senior citizens, said regular exercise was essential to maintaining good health and ensuring that people remained active as they advanced in age.
Speaking after the exercise, the former President said the initiative was designed not only as a fitness programme but also as an awareness campaign to encourage senior citizens to remain physically active.
He said, “The essence of this, you can see that they are senior citizens; they are young Papas and Mamas. Normally, you can only be a member of the club unless you are 70 and above and I am just getting to that age.”
Obasanjo added that the club was established to demonstrate that old age should not prevent people from living active and productive lives.
“The idea is to show and to encourage and to let people know that in growing old, exercise is a vital element to make sure that you grow old gracefully, graciously and in a way that even when you are old, you are still able to live the way you should live,” he said.
He also pointed to some of the elderly participants as evidence that age should not necessarily be a barrier to physical activity.
The former President said the walk was also intended to encourage others to adopt healthier lifestyles as they grew older.
The President of the Senior Citizens Club, Group Captain Ayobamiji Erinfolami (retd.), commended Obasanjo for participating in the exercise and demonstrating commitment to the wellbeing of elderly people.
Erinfolami said the former President’s participation had provided encouragement to members of the club.
Similarly, Obasanjo’s close aide, Elder Udo Umoren, described the exercise as a timely boost for members of the club.
Umoren said the walk would help keep the senior citizens active and encouraged them to continue embracing healthy lifestyles as they advanced in age.
The club’s membership is open to people aged 70 and above, with the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland serving as its patron.
Obasanjo, who is approaching the club’s membership age, is also a member of the organisation.
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