Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday in Abuja told former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme that he was already close to the departure lounge.

Obasanjo said this while congratulating the former vice-president on his 80th birthday.

By becoming an octogenarian, Obasanjo said Ekwueme should know he was becoming an old man.

Friends and well-wishers had elaborately marked Ekwueme’s birthday in Abuja and other major cities in the country.

Obasanjo spoke at the conference on Party Politics in Nigeria and Lobbying, the Lobbyist and the Legislature, organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies.

Before Obasanjo spoke, Senate President, David Mark; his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu, and the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, had congratulated Ekwueme on attaining 80.

Obasanjo, who shared one of the sessions of the conference, later told Ekwueme that attaining 80 was a sign that he (Ekwueme) was moving to the departure lounge.

Obasanjo said, “The only octogenarian on the high table, and I don’t think there is even another person on the other side of the table, even in the hall (that is up to 80 years).

“My brother and friend, and I think the Senate President regards you as a true democrat; I will join the others in congratulating you on your recent crossing of the bar.

“But let me just warn you that crossing the bar or becoming 80 something, you are getting nearer the departure lounge.

“I will get into the car park with you, but I won’t go into the departure lounge with you.”

His comments elicited laughter from the audience, including Ekwueme, who in a hushed tone, spoke with Obasanjo.

No one, however, heard what Ekwueme told the former president.

But Obasanjo replied him in pidgin, “As we come, na so we go go,” which literally means that those who came to the world first would be the first to die.

While Obasanjo was born on March 5, 1937, Ekwueme was born on October 21, 1932.

Obj is close to arrival lounge. Yeye

Pot calling kettle black.

OBJ and his bag of real and unadulterated jokes...

LoL, Funny man.

Should Obasanjo leave before Ekwueme, then he falsified his age.

Obj is funny at times Btw na truth him dey talk, an 80yrs old shd cherish everyday he sees

gulfer: Should Obasanjo leave before Ekwueme, then he falsified his age.

The thing no dey work like that ooooo..

[/color][color=#550000]funny though but ironically God dnt follow age wen it comes death.

I don't like this baba, but OBJ sure crack jokes. He must be fun to be with when lively.

Both these guys are on d same axis of departure lounge...obj dom dey crack joke wen we go crack jokes against am im go begin form ''erstwhile president shud be given some due respect''.

Why is there some rejoicing, it is not as if the youths will take up the mantel, the remainder of old gays will simply continue the trend

Who is a bigger legend than Baba himself.... OBJ 1 aka "I dey Kamkpe!" alias "I dey laff!"?
Bad Pass Tony Montana... Choii! Aremu Matthew OKIKIOLA! You gotta respect the nigga!