Obasanjo: I Can’t Die Before My Time

Posted by admin Latest Politics Saturday, January 1st, 2011

Former President Oluse-gun Obasanjo yesterday declared that he would not die before his due time, saying that the incident in Ekiti State on Wednesday in which he was speculated to have fainted and subsequently died yesterday was the seventh time his death would be rumoured.

Obasanjo was rumoured to have fainted during the 70th Birthday thanksgiving service of the former Managing Director of the defunct Nigeria Airways, Olu Bajowa in Ekiti State.

“My words to Nigerians are that wishes are not horses; if people wish and God does not make it to happen, there is nothing that can be done to make it happen by any mortals. I think people take delight in speculation and rumours,” said Obasanjo yesterday.

The former President said it was a friend of his that broke the news of his death to him yesterday morning.Obasanjo who spoke to newsmen at his Presidential Hilltop in Abeokuta yesterday while narrating how he was choked during the birthday ceremony, said lack of enough ventilation arising from lack of air-conditioners and fans, forced him to retire to his car to feel some breeze of air-conditioners.

He said after staying there for about three minutes, he felt okay and went to his host’s house for breakfast. “I was given two pieces of banana which I ate and I returned to the church. I was shocked three days after to hear reports of Obasanjo fainting. It is part of the gimmick of selling newspapers.”

“A friend who called me this morning wanted to confirm whether the news he heard that I was dead was true. I have counted seven times that I have been rumoured dead, since the eve of my inauguration in 1999 as a democratically elected President of Nigeria till today.

“Those who indulge in this will not give up; and it is left to those who have superstitious believe that when there are rumours and speculation like this, it means longevity. Whether longevity or not, what I know is that until God who has created me decides to say yes, I have reached my take-off point to return to him, I will still remain Kampe, despite peoples speculation and rumour.”He therefore urged all Nigerians to pray for the success of the elections, wishing the “young and old, male and female Nigerians every new fortunes the year will offer.”wp_posts