Nigeria’s Obasanjo Silent On Memorial For Late US President Jimmy Carter

Naija News reports that Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia, was the longest-living U.S. president and the first to reach the milestone of 100 years.

According to a statement by Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, the memorial service will be held at the Chapel of Christ, The Glorious King, located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. The event, scheduled for 9:00 a.m., will feature a special sermon by Rev. Israel Akanji, President of the Baptist Convention. Obasanjo will also deliver a tribute titled, “Jimmy Carter: The Departure of a Titan.”

Akinyemi noted that Obasanjo, an African statesman and Carter’s longtime friend, organized the service to celebrate the legacy of the 39th U.S. President.

In other news, Obasanjo reflected on his imprisonment under the regime of late military dictator General Sani Abacha in 1995. Speaking during an interactive session with 15 young leaders organized by the Future Africa Leaders Foundation at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, he revealed that his detention was a consequence of his refusal to stay silent on critical national and international issues.

Sharing insights into his journey, Obasanjo recounted how he transitioned to agriculture after retiring from the military at the age of 42. “I joined the Army, and at the age of 42, I finished my career as a military officer. But what could I do? I was still young, energetic, and dynamic. So, I took to agriculture,” he said, noting that his outspoken nature often put him in difficult situations.