A former Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said he consulted with an Indian astrologer to know his date of birth.
He said this at the 2017 International Youth Day and Public Presentation of Olusegun Obasanjo’s Books for Children as one of the programmes marking his 80th birthday, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library auditorium, in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo explained that the astrologer could not ascertain his birthday, but that he only told him that he would live long.
I was not lucky unlike other of his contemporaries, whose parents were knowledgeable to note their date of births.
“I have been to India to meet an astrologer on this issue, but, the astrologer looked into my hands and said he had seen longevity. I concluded that the day I was born was no longer a matter.”
“Whether I was wrong or right in the chosen date, I had chosen one and that is it. At least I know those I grew together and attended schools with,” he said.
The former president said that lack of care for some of the country’s archival materials and treasures informed his decision to establish the presidential library.
Obasanjo said: “We have been careless with what we should not be careless with. The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) will serve as a centre for the preservation of the past, capturing the present and inspiring our future.”
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, represented by a Director in the Ministry, Alhaji Yakubu Gambo, assured that the Ministry would strive to make the books available in all schools’ libraries in the country.
The Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun in her remark described Obasanjo as a role model, devoted and patriotic Nigerian.
“I encourage you to imbibe the culture of hardwork and also to have the ‘I can, I will’ approach to everything you are doing. The road to success requires dedication, commitment and hardwork,” Mrs. Amosun added.
Forty seven secondary schools and 30 universities participated in the debate event with the topic: “Presidential libraries will reduce leadership deficit in Africa.”
