Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is in high spirit while counting his losses following the fire which gutted his hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, capital of his home state, Ogun, in South-West Nigeria.

The fire flared about 4:25pm, some 20 minutes after the retired army general who previously ruled the country as military Head of State, left for his other house located in Ita-Eko area of the town.

“He appears not shaken by the incident,” said one of his close friends who spoke with News Express. “He is in high spirit and assured me that it is not too bad.”

Obasanjo, who hastily returned to Abeokuta upon learning of the fire incident, was his usual jovial self after overcoming is initial shock. Speaking in Yoruba Language, he said the newsmen should go to town and propagate the song that “Ile Obasanjo to jo, eewa lo bu si.” Translated, it roughly means that Obsanjo’s house which has been razed by fire is like the king’s palace which value increases after it is burnt.

The fire has been traced to electricity power surge in his private office, a stone throw to his bedroom. Security men in the premises promptly raised an alarm and the state fire service was contacted.
The fire men swiftly responded to the distress call, racing to the scene in two vehicles to successfully quench the fire.

No life was lost but properties worth millions of naira were destroyed by the fire. Unlike Obasanjo, who looked unruffled, his wife, Bola, was sighted in the premises in company of some grandchildren looking worried.

•Photo: The burning mansion.