At 89, Obasanjo Stays Active and Manages Diabetes with Discipline

By James Ogunnaike

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo urged Nigerians to adopt healthy habits—balanced diets, regular exercise, and routine medical check‑ups—during a speech in Abeokuta on Saturday. He highlighted how these practices have enabled him to remain active at 89, despite living with diabetes for more than forty years.

Obasanjo delivered the remarks after leading the ceremonial tee‑off at the 2026 FirstBank/OBJ Golf Tournament, which was held at the Abeokuta Golf Club.

The former president emphasized that exercise is vital at every age, especially for seniors, and that disciplined health management has sustained him over the decades.

“One thing you must understand is that exercise is very important at every age, and even more important when you become a senior citizen,” he said.

“I’m officially 89 years old, but by the grace of God, I have been keeping fit and strong despite the fact that I have been diabetic for over 40 years. Many people do not take their health seriously enough.”

Obasanjo explained that he follows what he calls the “DREAMS + C” principle, a framework he says guides healthy and balanced living.

According to him, “D stands for diet — what kind of food do you eat? R is for rest — do you have time to rest? E is for exercise — you must exercise regularly. M is for medical — the need to go for check‑ups and take necessary medication.”

“S is for social — create time to interact with people. This was one of the reasons I established a Senior Citizens Club in OOPL, and the minimum age for joining is 70.”

“Finally, C stands for contentment. Whatever position you are in life, be content. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be ambitious; you should have realistic ambition, but avoid over‑ambition.”

The elder statesman also praised the continued sponsorship of the annual tournament held in his honour, noting that the event promotes unity, friendship and national cohesion.

“I am always excited every year to be part of this tournament because beyond the game itself, it encourages exercise, interaction and national unity,” he added.

During the event, First Bank Chief Executive Officer Olusegun Alebiosu described the tournament as a platform that promotes discipline, integrity and excellence.

He said the competition celebrates not only achievements on the golf course but also the values of consistency, focus and character building associated with the game.

He commended participants for their sportsmanship and praised the organisers, officials, volunteers and sponsors for ensuring a seamless tournament.

“The professionalism displayed here has continued to raise the standard of golf tournaments in Nigeria,” Alebiosu said.

Vice Chairman of the Abeokuta Golf Club and Chairman of the tournament’s organising committee, Oladele Adeniran, also spoke. He said the competition was organised to honour Obasanjo’s enduring contributions to Nigeria and Africa.

Adeniran dismissed the notion that golf is an elitist sport, insisting that the game remains accessible to people from different backgrounds.

“Yes, if you are financially comfortable, you can play the game. But there is also another pathway into golf, especially for younger people, becoming a caddie. As a caddie, you have access to the course, and you can learn and practise the game,” he said.

“In fact, many professional golfers in Nigeria and around the world today started as caddies. Some came from humble backgrounds, but through golf they have become respected voices in society.”

He further noted that golf offers flexibility and health benefits, adding that players could conveniently fit the game into their schedules.

“Some people start at 6 a.m., finish nine holes by 8 a.m., dress up and head to work. Others come in after work around 5 p.m. Apart from being enjoyable, golf also helps people stay active. A round of golf can easily help you achieve over 10,000 steps in a day,” he added.

Adeniran disclosed that the professional category of the tournament featured some of Nigeria’s leading golfers, including Francis Ekpeyong, Nigeria’s number one golfer and West Africa’s top‑ranked professional, who emerged winner of the professional event.

Former Nigerian number one professional golfer Sunday Olapade finished second alongside veteran golfer Nojim Shofela.

He added that about 176 amateur golfers participated in the tournament, describing the turnout and atmosphere as impressive.

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