I consulted Mandela, Tutu before vying for presidency – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday made a recollection of election as president in 1999, declaring that he had to travel to South Africa to seek the counsel of Nelson Mandela (late) and Desmond Tutu before accepting to seek for election as president

Speaking at a thanksgiving service to herald his 80th birthday anniversary in Abeokuta, Obasanjo also said God had been ‘impartial’ in making him what he has been able to become in life.

At a ceremony organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ogun state chapter, the former president was honoured with the title of the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Christians (leader of all Christians) in Ogun State.

Obasanjo said, “When the pressure to contest started shortly after my release from prisons from offence I knew nothing about, two persons came to mind. Madiba and Tutu. I went to South Africa and I met Mandela then, he said I should follow my instinct. I also went to Desmond Tutu and he said, “Why did you want to offend God? If your people want you to serve God why are you saying no?

“I returned to Nigeria and one day by accident while opening my Bible, I opened the Book of Esther. Today all is history, but in all this, I will say that God has been impartial to me. Because where I was born, it is unimaginable that somebody will come out from the place and become all these.”

In his sermon, Bishop Oke described Obasanjo as a great man whom God raised for the greatness of Nigeria. He said, "Once a generation, God raises a man for his people. Like Abraham, Joseph, Samuel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Peter, and Paul. Baba is a hero God raised for our generation."