Former President Olusegun Obasanjo escaped death yesterday when his vehicle had a tyre blowout shortly after attending activities marking the 10th anniversary of his late wife Stella along the Sagamu interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Express road.
He was on his way to the Murtala International Airport in Lagos.
The former president was on his way to Lagos to board a flight to Abidjan. The tyre was changed and he has since left for Abidjan to commence election monitoring activities for Cote D’Ivoire’s Presidential Election holding tomorrow.
During the memorial Obasanjo said with solemn tone that he would continue to miss her greatly while recalling the times he spent with her.
He added that other members of his family and that of the Abebe in Ishan, Edo State, still miss Stella, a decade after her demise.
Stella died as a sitting First Lady in October 23, 2005 following surgery at a hospital in Spain.
He said, “I won’t say much about her today because much had been written already in my tribute about my late wife in the book, ‘My Watch’ and part of it says, she will be dearly missed by me, my family and the Abebe family.”
Also, Mr. John Abebe who spoke on behalf of the Abebe family said their sister and daughter would be missed.
For the Deputy National chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), South, Segun Oni described late Stella as quintessential woman, who was born and raised in family reputed for humility and integrity.
Oni who spoke with reporters, said his close interaction with the Abebe family gave him insight into the late the Stella’s whose pedigree could not be over-emphasized.
The officiating clergy, Pastor Yussuf Obaje in the memorial service sermon titled “Keep her memory alive,” described Stella as an epitome of womanhood and urged the family to continue to keep her legacy alive while Senator Ben Murray – Bruce described her as an unusual and global woman.
In attendance at the memorial service are Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ogun state governor, Sen. Ibikunke Amosun, Mr. Funso Kupolokun among others.