During
a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise breakfast programme,
veteran comedian Atunyota Akpobome, known as Ali Baba, shared an interesting
story about former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ali Baba recalled how
Obasanjo had jokingly referred to him as a thief in the past.
According
to Ali Baba, his humorous take on Obasanjo’s supposed frugality has stood the
test of time and remains a favorite among his jokes.
Obasanjo,
who served as Nigeria’s democratically elected President from May 1999 to May
2007 and as the military Head of State from February 1976 to October 1979, was
apparently surprised when he discovered the comedian’s fee for his services.
Ali
Baba fondly reminisced about the incident, revealing that his most memorable
joke involved Obasanjo himself. In fact, the former President even suggested
that the comedian remove the joke from his book, despite writing the foreword
for it.
The
comedian went on to explain that there were rumors about Obasanjo being very
stingy, and the President had no idea about the extent of Ali Baba’s earnings
until he stumbled upon the budget for an event organized by Audu Ogbeh and
Doyin Okupe. Upon seeing Ali Baba’s one million naira fee, Obasanjo humorously
questioned, “Ali Baba, one million naira, why? That’s what you’ve been
charging since 1999?”
Ali
Baba also shared an amusing anecdote about introducing Obasanjo during an
African Union event in Abuja. During the introduction, the former President
playfully labeled him “Ole,” a Yoruba word for “thief.”
Although it was meant as a jest, the members of the AU perceived it as a
compliment, adding to the lightheartedness of the situation.
