Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said he would not have become the president of Nigeria if not for the morals and education received from his alma mater – Baptist Boys High School (BBHS), Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He was a student and classmate with the late M.K.O Abiola, the acclaimed winner of 1993 presidential election, at the school located formerly at Oke-Egunya and now at Oke-Saje, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Obasanjo, who spoke on the lecture titled “Eyin Ni Iwe Wa: You Are Our Epistle” at the 100th anniversary celebration of the school, lamented that Abiola would have become a president of the country if not for the hatred from some forces..
He urged the students to emulate him, Abiola and other great men from the school, including the late Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief D.S Adegbenro, to be successful in life
The former president charged the students to be conscious of their duties and conduct themselves in good manners, saying they are the ambassadors of the school wherever they go in Africa or other continents of the world.
He also asked the students to imbibe the spirit of humility, honesty, integrity, wisdom, courage, competence and fear of God as their watchwords to make change in the world.
Obasanjo, while thanking the founding fathers of the school, especially Rev. S.G Pinnock, recalled how people, especially the traditionalists thought the school would be a doom because it was established on Oro and other gods shrine at Egunya Hill.
“We could proudly say BBHS with education plus. And for me, it stood me in good stead throughout my life so far. Without BBHS, I would not have been what I am. Once again, I am grateful to those that I have mentioned and seniors, classmates and juniors that I had the opportunity to interact with while in the BBHS.
“I believe that I must not be too forgetful to leave out yours truly, the son of Obasanjo, a modest war-victorious General and former Military Head of State and former President of Nigeria. Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the first communication industry millionaire in Nigeria and the acclaimed winner of the 1993 Presidential election, who was in a class by himself. If not for Nigerian bad belle, M.K.O. Abiola would have been President and with me as President, we would have needed one more old student of BBHS to be President for us to permanently locate it in BBHS after three times. And that is a challenge for up-and-coming generations of old boys.
“We carry it to anywhere we go as an epistle written by BBHS to our families, our communities, our States, our country, and our continent of Africa and indeed our world. We must impact with humility, honesty, integrity, wisdom, courage, competence and fear of God – these must continue to be our characteristics and our attributes to make a change for good wherever we are,” Obasanjo stated.
