89 Year-Old Obasanjo Reveals Strategy He Used to Manage Diabetes for Four Decades

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday emphasised the need for people to watch their diet, embrace regular exercise and prioritise medical care to keep fit and stay healthy.

Obasanjo, who said that he is “officially 89”, yet he has been nursing diabetes for over 40 years, adding that aside from the grace of God, the fact that he kept to a healthy diet without joking with regular exercise as well as seeking medical care and taking necessary medications must have helped him to stay fit and healthy at 89.

The former president disclosed this on Saturday after performing the tee off of the 2026 First Bank/OBJ Golf Tournament held at Abeokuta Golf Club.

Speaking on the essence of the tournament, the former president said that “One thing you must understand is that exercise is very important at every age — and even more important when you become a senior citizen.

“I’m officially 89 years old, but I have by the grace of God being keeping fit and strong despite the fact that I have been diabetic for over 40 years, but the point is that many people do not take their health seriously enough. I always talk about the acronym DREAMS + C.

“There is this acronym of DREMS+C that I work with; the D is for diet, what kind of food do you eat? The R is for rest. Do you have time to rest? The E is for exercise, you must exercise regularly, the M is for Medical, the need to go for a check-up and take necessary medications.

“The S is for social, create time to interact with the people, and this was one of the reasons why I established a Senior Citizens Club in OOPL, and the minimum age for joining is 70. Some people try to join earlier, but the age requirement is 70.

“Finally, the C stands for contentment. Whatever position you are in life, be content. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be ambitious — you should have realistic ambition — but avoid over-ambition”.