Obasanjo leads Ogun senior citizens on 2.5km fitness walk in Abeokuta

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday led about 100 members of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Senior Citizens Club on a 2.5-kilometre fitness walk in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The exercise formed part of the club’s keep-fit programme aimed at promoting healthy living, physical activity and overall well-being among senior citizens.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, made available to newsmen on Sunday, Obasanjo stressed the importance of regular exercise as a vital component of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle in old age.

He described the walk as both an awareness campaign and an encouragement for senior citizens to remain physically active, noting that advancing age should not prevent people from living healthy and productive lives.

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Obasanjo said the club was established to encourage senior citizens to remain active and enjoy their later years with dignity and good health.

According to him, membership of the club is restricted to people aged 70 years and above, adding that he was also approaching the age bracket.

“The essence of this is that you can see that they are senior citizens; they are young Papas and Mamas. Normally, you can only be a member of the club if you are 70 and above, and I am just getting to that age.

“The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland is our Patron. I am a member of the club, and the idea is to show and encourage people and let them know that as you grow old, exercise is a vital element to make sure that you grow old gracefully and graciously, and in a way that even when you are old, you are still able to live the way you should live,” he said.

The former President added that the exercise was also intended to serve as a source of motivation for other elderly people to embrace physical activity.

“It is an exercise and encouragement and an advice for people. You can see this is Mama and Baba. This Baba is 90,” Obasanjo said, pointing at one of the participants, “and as you can see him looking fit.”

The President of the club, Group Captain Ayobamiji Erinfolami (rtd.), commended the former Nigerian leader for his commitment to the club and for leading by example.

Erinfolami described Obasanjo’s participation in the walk as a demonstration of his commitment to promoting healthy ageing and encouraging senior citizens to remain active.

Also speaking, a close aide to the former President, Elder Udo Umoren, described the exercise as “the needed tonic to keep us going,” stressing that the initiative would continue to inspire members as they advance in age.

He said, “We shall continue to appreciate him for this kind of motivation and encouragement as we continue to grow into our old age.”

The fitness walk attracted members of the OOPL Senior Citizens Club, who participated enthusiastically in the exercise as part of efforts to promote active and healthy ageing.