Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, marking his 89th birthday, condemned those circulating a fake letter about his death, declaring “I dey kampe” and stating that God has assured him of more work to do on earth, while lamenting Africa’s leadership crisis as the primary cause of the continent’s preventable suffering despite its abundant natural resources.
Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that at 89 years, he won’t die anytime soon, condemning those circulating a fake letter in which he was purportedly speaking about his death, saying they were only wasting their time because “I dey Kampe.” The former president, born on March 6, 1937, disclosed this on Wednesday while delivering a colloquium titled “Burden and Blessing of Leadership: Reflections from Global Africa to the World” held as part of ceremonies marking his 89th birthday in Abeokuta, saying he had no doubt that God did not make a mistake to keep him alive and reasonably healthy at his age.
“For my final note in this address, I want to point your attention to the work of some never-do-well. They publish and circulate a fake paper credited to me that I am writing, giving notice of my death, pafuka. That is their wish and surely not God’s wish for me. 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,” the former President said.
Earlier, Obasanjo had lamented the leadership crisis that he said had, for decades, stifled Africa’s development, stating, “Africa is not a problem to be managed but a promise to be fulfilled through honest, courageous, selfless, incorruptible and transformational leadership,” while identifying leadership failure, not geography or history, as the primary cause of the continent’s preventable disease, suffering, starvation, conflict, insecurity and poverty. “The primary cause is the failure of those entrusted with power to lead for the people and serve them rather than against them; to build institutions rather than subvert them; to welcome accountability rather than flee from it, to ensure equity and justice rather than enthrone injustice, inequality and inequity,” he said, warning that many leaders arrive with promises but soon govern for personal or familial gain, undermine democracy, and erode institutions.