Former President Olusegun Obasanjo became the cynosure of all eyes in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Saturday, as he drove tricycle in celebration of his 85th birthday.

Obasanjo, who was born on March 5, 1937, picked and dropped passengers at their various destinations in Abeokuta.

The former President was dressed in his Yoruba native attire with a fez cap.

Many residents were also spotted running after the tricycle drove by the former ruler.

The former President rode the tricycle from the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) to Oke Mosan and Kuto areas of the city.

A Facebook user, Daniel Olusanya, said passengers that were picked by Obasanjo were excited being driven by a former president.

He said: “In celebration of Baba@85 and as part of the Youth Empowerment programme (anchored by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Youth Centre), the Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo rode one of the “Keke Napeps” (a.k.a Maruwa/Tricycle) to Kuto Abeokuta with passengers on-board.

“The journey started from his OOPL residence to Kuto underbridge while picking up random passengers (who were beyond excited to be driven by the former president) along the way. It was such a beautiful moment to behold.

“In all, 85 young people greatly benefited from the Baba@85 Free Keke Programme.”

Obasanjo, who was Nigeria’s President between 1999 and 2007, had in June donated 85 tricycles to youths across the country as part of activities to commemorate his 85th birthday.

He recently made headlines when he said one of the mistakes he made was choosing his running mate when he vied for the number seat in 1999.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, deputised Obasanjo while in office between 1999 and 2007.

“One of the mistakes I made was picking my number two when I wanted to become the president. But because it was a genuine mistake, God saved me.

“The second one was when Abacha wanted to arrest me. When Abacha wanted to arrest me, I was told by the American ambassador that they will arrest me and that America has asked that I should be given an asylum. I said no. It could have been a mistake because I could have lost my life.

“I will say there are many things that could have been a mistake but God saved me from them all,” Obasanjo had said.

The Star