Tribute To A Titan Of Peace: Obasanjo Honours Late President Jimmy Carter.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo paid glowing tributes to the late former American President Jimmy Carter, describing him as a “titan and man of peace” during a poignant memorial service held at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States and a 2002 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his humanitarian efforts post-presidency, passed away at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024, at his home in Plains, Georgia.
Obasanjo, speaking to a gathering of dignitaries and mourners, recounted how President Carter had personally intervened to secure his release from prison during the regime of the late Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha. “President Carter was one of my foreign friends who stuck their necks out to save my life and to seek my release from prison,” Obasanjo reminisced, detailing how Carter had negotiated his move from detention to house arrest on his farm, albeit temporarily.
The former Nigerian leader expressed profound gratitude for Carter’s efforts, highlighting the American’s visit to Nigeria specifically to plead for his release, noting that Carter was the only non-African leader who had done so. “Within a week of Abacha’s death, I was released by his successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar,” Obasanjo said, acknowledging the broader international support he received.
Carter’s legacy was not only in diplomacy but also in simplicity and humility, qualities Obasanjo praised extensively. “He was a simple, humble, honest man of God,” he stated, adding that Carter’s leadership style was one of inclusion and humility, which fostered success in his initiatives.
Obasanjo also drew parallels between their personal backgrounds, both having grown up in rural farming communities, which perhaps shaped their mutual respect and friendship. He described how their political paths crossed, especially when discussing Africa’s decolonisation and the fight against apartheid in Southern Africa, where Carter’s administration under Secretary of State Cyrus Vance showed significant support.
The memorial service underscored Carter’s impact on global peace, particularly his role in the Camp David Accords, which brought peace between Israel and Egypt. Obasanjo lamented that Carter’s good nature was sometimes misinterpreted as weakness, potentially costing him a second term in office. However, he noted Carter’s undeterred commitment to humanitarian causes through the Carter Centre, focusing on health, election monitoring, and agricultural improvements.
In closing, Obasanjo expressed that while Carter’s physical presence would be missed, his ideals and actions would continue to inspire. “I would miss a great and true friend, but I know we shall meet again in Paradise,” he concluded, leaving the audience with a sense of both loss and enduring inspiration from Carter’s remarkable life and legacy.
