Obasanjo Drops Matthew From His Name

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo disclosed that he long dropped one of his middle-names, Mathew.

Obasanjo’s full name used to be Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo. But the former President who turned 80-year-old in March disclosed his removal of Mathew at an event Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) organised in Abuja on Friday to celebrate his birthday.

Speaking at the occasion, Obasanjo, who is a member of NSE said he disliked the name ‘Mathew’ because of the kind of job the person who bore it in the bible did, adding that he believed a name must have good meaning.

According to him, “People ask what is in a name? For me, there is so much in a name.

“When I was born, my mother and father decided to name me Matthew. I grew up being called and addressed Matthew. What is the meaning of Matthew in The Bible? He was a tax collector.
“So, when I grew up, I dropped Matthew from my name. If anyone does not want to see my eyes red, no one should call me Matthew again.”

The former President lauded the system of succession in NSE saying it was rancour free . He advocated the adoption of the system that encouraged deputy to succeed his principal in the country’s politics.

His word, “The system of the NSE where the deputy president is president-elect will eliminate rancour and I wish we can bring that to politics in Nigeria.”