Obasanjo Shares His 40-Year Journey Living With an Incurable Condition

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has opened up on how he has successfully coped with diabetes for 40 years, despite the disease having no cure.

Obasanjo’s lifestyle discipline, healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate rest, routine medical checkups and strict adherence to prescribed medication have helped him manage the condition over the years.

Obasanjo’s disclosure was reported on Sunday during the launch of the “Lagos to the World” expedition, a global road journey to promote cancer awareness, early detection and African integration.

The event was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The former president emphasized the importance of healthy living and early medical intervention, praising the initiative conceived by BMW enthusiast and entrepreneur, Erik Nwagwu, in memory of his late mother and sister who died of cancer.

He praised Nwagwu for turning a personal tragedy into a campaign that could help a lot of people.

Sharing his own health journey, Obasanjo said, “I have a disease that is not yet curable and that’s diabetes. “I was diagnosed with diabetes over 40 years ago. “I still do.”

The ex-president said he has only been able to keep physically active at his age because he has a strict lifestyle routine.

“But what will I do? When I am around I play squash three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I consume what I see.

“Diet can be fun, can be enjoyable. But if you eat badly then the consequences can be bad for you too. And then rest. ” He said.

“Good rest is just as important as good food and exercise,” he stresses, adding that his formula for healthy living boils down to what he calls “DREMS”.

So diet and rest and exercise are very very important. “And then there is what I call DREMS. D is for Diet, R is for Rest, E is for Exercise and M is for Medical,” Obasanjo said.

He highlighted the importance of early detection and regular medical check-ups, urging Nigerians to take their regular health screening seriously.