Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s daughter, Iyabo Obasanjo, says she counts herself among the fortunate few as she nears her 60th birthday: both her father and mother are still alive.
Speaking in an interview on The Morayo Show_ reported by Nigerian Tribune, Iyabo described the experience as a rare blessing.
“My mom is still alive. I am one of the lucky ones that get to be almost 60 and still have both parents alive,” she said. “It is not common in this country or even around the world because people’s lifespan is what it is.”
She noted that many Nigerians, and people globally, lose one or both parents long before reaching a similar age. For her, the chance to keep sharing life with both parents is something she “deeply values and does not take for granted.”
Reflecting on her childhood, Iyabo said both parents shaped her, but in different ways. Her mother, she explained, was the stricter parent.
However, the discipline was not physical. “Her method of correcting her children was centered on serious conversations rather than corporal punishment,” Iyabo said. Instead of beatings, her mother would hold stern discussions that forced the children to reflect on their actions.
Those talks, she said, carried weight that lasted into adulthood. “They encouraged accountability and understanding, leaving impressions that remained with her over the years,” she explained. Looking back, she now appreciates the values those conversations instilled.
Her father also played a significant role, though she focused more on her mother’s firm, non-violent approach as a defining part of her upbringing.
Iyabo said the guidance she received contributed greatly to her personal development. The accountability, reflection, and understanding pushed in those childhood conversations still influence her perspective today.
At nearly 60, she says the perspective has shifted again. With average life expectancy shorter in many parts of the world, she feels more conscious of time. “This reality has made her more appreciative of the time she continues to spend with them and the opportunity to maintain those family bonds,” she stated.
In a culture where losing parents in mid-life is common, her openness struck a chord online. Many commenters said her words reminded them to call, visit, or thank their own parents while they can…See More
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