Reflection on Chief Obasanjo's simple lifestyle: My visit to his residence in 2011

 Written by: Blessed Adjekpagbon

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, an erstwhile Nigerian Head of State and President at different times, is certainly an unpredictable but simple lifestyle personality. 

The day l visited his Abeokuta residence in Ogun State, south west region of Nigeria, in 2011, to try to express my gratitude to him for giving me a presidential award in 2007 for my book titled "Rhymes from the Nile"  was when l got staggered by his simple lifestyle. The house was unimpressive with a gate widely opened as if it was not a place a former president is living. I saw about five young men casually discussing under a tree close to the gate. As l was about to bounce into the open compound in the manner of a usual Lagos guy after greeting them, a drama began between me and the seemingly casually talking young men.

I was carrying an envelope containing twelve copies of my newly published books titled 'When the King cries and Other Stories" and "Fundamentals of Literature - in - English," which l wanted to personally present to the former president as my token of contribution to his library. 

During that period, Bokoharam activities were just at its skeletal level. An old man who was addressed as Baba Sikiru by the young men was called out from inside the compound to follow me to about an electric pole distance away from outside the compound's gate to inspect the parcel of books l had with me. Even though the big envelope was not sealed, the young men refused to inspect it by themselves. It was then it dawned on me that they were afraid it could be a parcel-bomb. I began to laugh in my mind, that the young men who were dressed in black suits were the former president's security personnel who did not want to die if it happened that l was a disguised suicide bomber; hence, they called out an old man to do the inspection. They asked the old man loudly from a safe distance, what the envelope contained, thus: "Baba Sikiru, kilo wa ninu e?" In Yoruba language, which translates to English thus: "Elder Sikiru or Sakiru's father, what is inside the envelope?" And the old man responded, "Iwe ni o!" (It is books o o). 

Thereafter, they asked both of us to return to meet them where they were seated under a tree outside the compound, beside the left-hand side of the widely opened gate of an unattractive one-storey building. That was when l saw different weapons tucked inside their suits. They asked me where I came from and whether I had any previous appointment with the former president. I said l came from Lagos and had no previous appointment with him. They pointed out that I cannot see him since I had no previous appointment with him, but promised to deliver my gift and letter to him. 

I left and never heard anything from the former president relating to the books donated to him. About six months later, l read in some Nigerian dailies where he apologized to everyone he had been unable to attend to their needs at any point in time from when he was a president and after his tenure. In view of that, l decided not to bother to reach out to him again, to know whether he was given the books and letter or not. That was the closest move l had ever made to see Chief Obasanjo in person for the first time, after his tenure as Nigeria's president. Till date l have never met him one on one.

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Yola’s basketball player cries out for help

Written by: Blessed Adjekpagbon

Faruk Mahmud

In the midst of over a hundred folks walking on Sokoto Street in the City of Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, on Monday 14 July 2025, he stood out in the crowd with his seven feet towering height. This caught the attention of a roving journalist, who excused him for a chat. The very tall man's name is Faruk Mahmud.

During his interaction with Bulkybon News, the seemingly tallest man in Yola disclosed that he is a basketball player who has been unable to continue to play the game for a while despite his passion for it.

He informs that, "I have been playing basketball since my teenage and was looking forward to becoming a notable player of the Nigerian national basketball team, but there was nobody to recommend me to the national team handlers."

When asked whether he still wants to continue to play, he said, "Yes of course. I am very passionate about it and would love to continue if I can get help to recover from the setbacks I faced due to the collapse of a small poultry business I was doing. It was the business I was using to sustain myself while playing basketball with other individuals, such as some students of the American University of Nigeria at the basketball training courts outside the campus, along Yola By-pass."

He further points out that, "You know, one needs to keep fit by eating good food to have energy to train very well and keep going. But since the birds I had when I was actively doing a small poultry business, got attacked by a flu which happened when I didn't have enough money to buy medications, I lost my investment when all of them died."

Faruk's portrait

He also said his agelong dream is to play basketball at world class level with great American basketball stars, to become successful and establish a basketball academy to train youths in Adamawa who are interested in the sport. 

"One of the challenges facing us here in Yola is that we don't have a media house with a nationwide reach to project the skills and efforts of some people like me who are practicing different types of sports and are very good at it. I am therefore, using this opportunity to ask for your assistance to bring my desire to continue to play basketball, to those who can sponsor me and other youths in the state to global limelight. I need basketball kits and other basic necessities to encourage me and some of my colleagues to keep training to become world stars in the game."

Hence, through this avenue, basketball officials worldwide, who might be interested in Faruk, are called upon to invite him to join their basketball team anywhere in the world, where there is peace and harmony to showcase his skills. 

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