Elder statesman and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, said his mother carried his pregnancy for 12 months before his birth, attributing the delay to the handiwork of witches and wizards.

Obasanjo, who is the only Nigerian to have ruled the country as a military dictator and a democratically elected president, claimed the witches and wizards gave his mother a tough time before God’s intervention.

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This was revealed in a statement by his media assistant, Kehinde Akinyemi,issued in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

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The statement noted that the former president made the assertion during a drama presentation titled “Aremu Omo Asabi” held to mark the 66th anniversary of his late mother, Bernice Obasanjo’s passing.

The drama was held on Wednesday at the main auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The ex-president lamented that it was unfortunate that his mother never lived to see how marvelously God had helped him become great in life and enjoy the fruits of her hard labor.

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He said that although his mother gave birth to nine children, only two of them, himself and his sister, survived.

“I was told I was in my mother’s womb for 12 months, and since I was born, I have not been left for once. She had nine children, but two of us survived, myself and my sister,” he said.

“I was the only one who went to school because my father’s belief was that no matter how educated a female child is, she would end up in the kitchen.”

The former president promised to support the troupe’s quest to present the longest open drama to clinch a Guinness Book of Records entry.

Speaking at the programme, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said mothers will forever be the bedrock upon which the foundation of any society is built.

The deputy governor described Obasanjo’s mother as a great woman while alive, saying her influence would continue to endure through the lives of her children, especially Obasanjo, who remains a formidable figure in Nigeria’s history.

The governor added that the musical drama titled ‘Aremu Omo Asabi,’ performed in celebration of her life, was not just recounting history but also a prompt reminder of the sacrifices mothers make and the indelible spirit they pass on to their children.

“This tribute is also a call to action for all of us to honour and support mothers in every way possible. It reminds us of our collective responsibility to create an enabling environment where every mother’s hope for their children can flourish,” she said.

“This is why the present administration continues to pursue policies that ensure access to quality education, healthcare, and opportunities for all so that the dreams that mothers have for their children can be realised,” he said.