Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday, survived a road mishap in Ogun State.
The incident happened shortly after the Sagamu Interchange on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
The former president was travelling to Lagos to attend the church service for the 80th birthday of popular businessman, Sir Kessington Adebutu, when one of the tyres of his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) burst, “forcing the vehicle to swerve”, according to a source.
The vehicle was part of the entourage Obasanjo was travelling in and it almost hit other vehicles “but the driver, through experience, managed to control it”.
Obasanjo just left a church service at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Complex, Abeokuta to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of one of his wives, Stella, when the incident happened.
When the vehicle eventually stopped, Obasanjo ordered one of his security aides to stay with the driver and fix it.
He then joined another vehicle in the convoy to continue his journey to Methodist Church of the Holy Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos for Adebutu’s thanksgiving service.
Freedom Online learned that the former President travelled out of the country after the service.
In the Abeokuta church service, Obasanjo eulogised Stella, saying her memory would remain fresh in his mind.
Obasanjo stated that he and his entire family would continue to miss his late wife dearly.
The former president added that much had been said of Stella in his recent book “My Watch.”
“I wrote a little bit about her. There would be an occasion where I will talk about her. I think it suffices to say that we missed her dearly on both divides: the Obasanjo family and Abebe family. Her memory will remain fresh in my heart.”
Speaking on behalf of the Abebe family, where the late Stella hailed from, Dr John Abebe corroborated the former president and recalled fond memories of the former First Lady.
The Senator representing Bayelsa East, Ben Murray-Bruce, said Stella was an unusual woman who contributed her quota to humanity before her death.
Delivering his sermon entitled “Keep her memory alive,” the former Chaplain of the State House Chapel, Prof Yussuf Obaje, called for genuine fear of God among Nigerians to achieve a peaceful society.
The cleric, who described Stella as an epitome of womanhood, said she was a God-fearing woman who worked for her memory to be kept alive.
Obaje urged the family of the late First Lady to continue to keep her memories alive by sustaining her legacy.
Dignitaries at the event included Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, who was represented by Senate President’s wife, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Segun Oni, former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, Senator Daisy Danjuma; former Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engineer Funso Kupolokun, and former Managing Director of Bank of Industry, Ms Evelyn Oputu.
