Former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo maybe one of the few people in the world who have continued to enjoy good health at old age.

The former president clocked 87 years of age on March 5, 2024 and he was seen dancing to traditional songs and drums at his home in Abeokuta.

At the ending part of the video showing the dance steps, Olusegun Obasanjo displayed some good energy as he moved and rotate 190 degree in a quick succession inline with the beats drummed faster.

The energy displayed at his 87 birthday dance, was almost similar to the high level of energy put in while dancing at the 80th birthday party of Chief Tayo Sowunmi in February, 2022. Then Obasanjo was 84 years old and he was approaching 85 in less than two weeks.

During one of his previous birthday celebrations, he was seen playing football at mid eighties. In another outing, he drove tricycle, a commercial vehicle well known as “Keke” in some major streets in Ogun State.

Olusegun Obasanjo played active role in the Nigeria Civil war and he was one of the most prominent Nigerian soldiers in the war and aftermath of coup after coups in the Nigeria military coup history which he was suspected and arrested, detained by one of the then Head of Nigeria government, late Sani Abacha. Obasanjo got his freedom after the death of the Military junta, General Sani Abacha.

During the war and his military job function, he reportedly operated military heavy equipments and high precision weapons which required more man power and strength to operate then.

Obasanjo, a former military head of state, became Nigeria first civilian President in the new transitioning of power from military to civil rule in 1999.

He was mostly known for the payments of debts incurred by the Nigeria government most especially under the military rules.

A debt burden which has worsened and increased beyond imagination since 2015, when former military head of state, Major General Muhammadu Buhari became civilian president.

A statement by the Nigeria Minister of Finance issued while addressing members of the Nigeria National Assembly recently indicated that the ₦22.7 trillion of money printed during the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari through Ways and Means without commensurate productivity is the current cause of high level of inflation in the country.

The Minister added that the printing of money without production made the poor to become poorer while few privileged ones took advantage of the situation to make more money for themselves.

Former Nigeria President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, while in Abekuta, Ogun State on Tuesday, joined friends and well-wishers  of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at a lecture in commemoration of his 87th birthday.

Goodluck Jonathan said: “I believe the promise of the topic of the lecture, ‘Quality Leadership and Inclusive Democracy as Catalyst for Development in a Crises-ridden World’ goes to the heart of Africa’s development and global progress.

In sharing my thoughts on the topic, I made the point that inclusive democracy and effective leadership hold the key to unlocking Africa’s great potentials and transforming crises-ridden landscapes into beacons of hope, peace and prosperity”.

As part of the 87 birthday celebration, Obasanjo urged the current Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to learn a lesson from Zimbabwe just as Nigeria economic situation worsen and hardship increasing among the citizens every new day.

The Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to approach Zimbabwe for possible solutions to the Nigeria’s economic downturn.

While speaking at a youth leadership symposium held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, on his 87th birthday,  Obasanjo compared Nigeria’s soaring inflation and economic downturn to Zimbabwe, saying Nigeria has lessons to learn from the Southern African country.

“We have this problem of galloping inflation in the country now but do we have a country with such problems recently? Yes, we do. Zimbabwe had this problem recently,” Mr Obasanjo explained.

Shouldn’t we ask them how they did it even if our approach will be different? Even if whatever we shall be doing will be different, we can ask questions to navigate our way out.

You have a problem, look at those who have had this problem before and how they overcame it.

When the time is rough and tough, the tough must get going.

No problem is new and no problem will be permanent. Committing suicide is not the end of any problem. Confront it and take it to God because he could do anything.”

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), had reported that Nigeria’s inflation increased to 29.90 per cent in January 2024 from 28.92 per cent recorded in December 2023.

High inflation has driven food prices up astronomically, forcing Nigerians to protest in the streets and some now calling on the military to take over power from the civilian government.

The high cost of living took a frightening dimension after Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office last year and announced the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira.

While fuel subsidy removal has pushed petrol prices from ₦145 to ₦630, affecting food prices, the naira has continued its freefall against the dollar, trading for above ₦1,600 against the dollar.