Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his eldest
daughter, Iyabo, told him he was going to die in office. He also said
his daughter said if that should happen, she would not weep for him.
The former President said he, nevertheless, replied his daughter that such weeping or no weeping would not mean anything to him since he would not be there to appreciate it.
On how he became President in 1999, Obasanjo said: “My mind was almost made up (to vie for the position of President) but I had to consult with my children. I got four of them together in New York.
“I told them I was going to decide whether to go into politics or not. Iyabo was the most antagonistic. She burst out loudly, ‘I know you will join and you will die there and if you die, I will not weep'.
“I told her ‘if I die and you weep, it is for yourself and others, not for me as I will not know you are weeping.’
“It is ironic that within 10 years, Iyabo became a Senator and I completed two terms of eight years without a scratch.”
Obasanjo made these revelations in his controversial book - MY WATCH.
The meeting with the four children came after he had consulted almost all those that mattered.
President Obasanjo added that out of the four children in attendance when he spoke with them, it was only Segun who he said, had a few words of encouragement.
The son, according to Obasanjo, said, “Daddy, you have always said that we must serve God and humanity and if this is the way you have chosen to serve God and humanity, I will pray for you.”
Obasanjo mentioned the names of his 21 children in the book. Five of them are holders of PhD.
He said it was ironic that the same Iyabo, who made noise, later became a senator during his tenure.