According to him, he took the decision to denounce the name because Matthew in the Bible was a 'stupid' tax collector.
The former president made the statement on Friday at an event organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in commemoration of his 80th birthday celebration in Abuja.
Obasanjo explained that he adopted only Olusegun Okikiola Aremu as his names because they have lots of connotations in the African setting.
He was quoted by Leadership Newspaper saying “When I was born in my part of Nigeria, the system was that after eight days, you must be given a name and for people to know that you were born into a Christian family, you will be given one Hebrew name. “My mother and father decided to name me Matthew but when I grew up, I started asking myself the meaning of Matthew. Not only does it not have meaning as long as I am concerned, the biblical Matthew is a stupid tax collector. Anybody who does not want to see my eyes red should stop calling me Matthew”.
The former president made the statement on Friday at an event organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in commemoration of his 80th birthday celebration in Abuja.
Obasanjo explained that he adopted only Olusegun Okikiola Aremu as his names because they have lots of connotations in the African setting.
He was quoted by Leadership Newspaper saying “When I was born in my part of Nigeria, the system was that after eight days, you must be given a name and for people to know that you were born into a Christian family, you will be given one Hebrew name. “My mother and father decided to name me Matthew but when I grew up, I started asking myself the meaning of Matthew. Not only does it not have meaning as long as I am concerned, the biblical Matthew is a stupid tax collector. Anybody who does not want to see my eyes red should stop calling me Matthew”.
''Matthew we have heard sir''
hahahahahaha... very funny indeed. stupid tax collector. he isn,'t serious at all
ReplyDeleteI love this Man.
DeleteStella you dey find *Matthew* ermm..I mean Obasanjo's trouble, bah? tongue out
ReplyDeleteOga Mathew,infact,Former President Obansanjo Mathew aka the tax collector,I'm in my house come and beat me.
ReplyDeleteLol u no well
DeleteHe just made the name popular cos thats what naija ppl will start calling him
ReplyDeleteBut u sef join chop our tax money na abi, ur parents saw the future when they named u Matthew.
ReplyDelete😂😁😀😁😂.I never knew his name was Mathew.He just told me.
ReplyDeleteSame here.
Deletechim_oma a.k.a. Miss Kapusu
Hahahaha 😂😂😂😂the name be fit him na 😁
ReplyDeleteImagine at the age of 90 baba is still discovering himself... Never too late bro
ReplyDeleteMy mentor don vex.. Lol
ReplyDeletelol ... This man ba serious case
ReplyDeleteHehehehheh,baba don vex.
ReplyDeleteThe name means God's Gift. Baba google is your friend
ReplyDelete