Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed lingering speculations about his ethnic origin, stating that both his father and mother were from Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Obasanjo made the clarification in Lagos during the public presentation of Charly Boy’s memoir held at Alliance Française, Adenuga House.
The event attracted prominent figures from the media, arts and literary communities who gathered to celebrate the launch of the activist and entertainer’s highly anticipated book, which chronicles his life, career and decades of activism.
Speaking during the event, the former president said his daughter was present and could also attest to his family background.
“Fortunately my daughter is here, before I refer to my daughter who will proudly answer that question better, my father is from Abeokuta, my mother is from Abeokuta,” Obasanjo said.
He added that he could trace his roots directly to both sides of his family in Abeokuta.
“I can take you from my father’s compound in Abeokuta, I can take you to my mother’s compound in Abeokuta,” he stated.
Obasanjo, however, said he would not be offended if anyone chose to describe him as Igbo, stressing that such a label would not provoke hostility or violence.
“But if anybody then says I am an Igbo, I will not quarrel with him because that is his own description of me and so be it,” he said.
“If you call me an Igbo man, I won’t because of that go and look for a gun to shoot you,” Obasanjo added.
