I Wish To Live Beyond 100 Years, Says Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday expressed his desire that he would live beyond the year 2040 to enable him celebrate the 20th year coronation of one of his favourite traditional rulers in Ogun state, the Agura of Gbagura, Oba Sabur Bakare, Jamolu II.
The former president, who spoke Wednesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital during the interdenominational service held to mark the one year coronation anniversary of the monarch, emphatically declared that by then, he would have lived beyond a 100 years and have more opportunities to celebrate with Oba Bakare.
The former president, who was part of the dignitaries that converged to celebrate the monarch at the first year anniversary, was 83 years old last March 2020.
It would be recalled that Oba Bakare received the staff of office from the former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, May 21, 2019 as the 9th Agura of Gbagura in Egbaland.
Speaking at the event Obasanjo, however, said he wished to be at the 20 years anniversary of the monarch, saying that he also wished God takes his life after fulfilling the dream.
“I will be here to celebrate your 20 years anniversary with you whether I am invited or not. By the time I also partake in celebrating your 20th anniversary with you, if God wishes he can call me to come and meet him in heaven because I know by that time, I will be above 100 or more”.
The former president, however, advised the monarch to always ensure he propagates unity among traditional rules in Yorubaland.
“There are times that kabiyesi don’t listen to words and there are times he does listen to words. If we are united there is nothing we can’t do in Yoruba land and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his remarks, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo noted that the past one year of the reign of Oba Bakare had been characterised by direct engagement of Egba Monarchs, leaders and indeed all stakeholders in Egbaland for its cohesion and unity of purpose.
Alake expressed that the entire Egba Traditional Council was satisfied with the all-inclusive leadership of the Agura Monarch and congratulated him for a successful anniversary.
The Agura while commissioning the borehole project for the community in Gbagura area, lauded the sponsors of the project.
He, however, promised to sustain the project which he ordered to be free for the people of the community.
He expressed his gratitude towards Obasanjo, all the monarchs and well-wishers that rejoiced with him for his first anniversary.
The monarch pledged that the unity and love among the Egbas would continue to wax stronger.
