Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has paid a heartfelt tribute to former United States President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024.
Obasanjo credited Carter with making significant contributions to his life and strengthening Nigeria-US relations.
Speaking from his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo reflected on his personal connection with Carter, who visited Nigeria in 1978 while Obasanjo was the country’s military Head of State.
“Jimmy Carter contributed to the reason I am alive today,” Obasanjo said in an interview with Channels Television. “Nigeria and the African continent have lost a friend, and the international community has lost an advocate for fairness and justice.”
Obasanjo described Carter’s presidency as a time of improved relations between Nigeria and the United States.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US President, served from 1977 to 1981. After leaving office, he dedicated his life to promoting global democracy, fighting public health challenges, and teaching Sunday school.
Born in rural Plains, Georgia, Carter maintained a modest lifestyle that contrasted with the often extravagant lives of other world leaders. He spent his final years in the same home he and his wife bought in 1961.
Obasanjo noted Carter’s humility and commitment to service, which he described as an inspiration for people worldwide.
Carter’s integrity stood in sharp contrast to controversies surrounding other US presidents. Political historian Barbara Perry observed that Carter’s life and post-presidency advocacy set a high ethical standard in American politics, one rarely matched by his successors.
Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s military leader from 1976 to 1979 and later as a democratically elected President from 1999 to 2007. His tribute adds to the global outpouring of admiration for Carter, whose legacy continues to inspire leaders and citizens alike.
Jimmy Carter is survived by his family and a world deeply impacted by his lifelong commitment to justice and humility.
