Obasanjo Remembers How Jimmy Carter Saved His Life

Obasanjo remembers how Jimmy Carter saved his life as he honours his late American friend

mAs the world leaders honour in-death Jimmy Carter, Obasanjo will not be left behind as he reckons Carter’s role in his release from military prison.

On Sunday, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo held a memorial service in honour of Jimmy Carter to pen tribute to the man whom he described as a ‘titan.’

Former Military Head of States and President of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo how his friend, late President of the United States of America (USA), Jimmy Carter, rescued him from death.

Obasanjo Remembers How Jimmy Carter Saved his Life

In a memorial service held on Sunday in honour of Jimmy Carter, Obasanjo paid profound tribute to the late former American President whom he described as a “titan and a man of peace.”

Carter, who happened to be the 39^th president of the United States of America died at the age of 100 on 29^th December, 2024, at his home in Plains, Georgia.

He lived a fulfilled life. His presidency was plagued with troubles and pressures from within America over his administration’s inability to secure the release of hostages in the middle-east and economic struggle, which impeded his second term as the president.

Jimmy Carter was known for his peace-keeping operations before, during and after his presidency and became a winner of 2002 Nobel Peace Prize award.

The memorial service was held on Sunday, 12^th January, 2025, at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta Ogun State.

Obasanjo remembered how Jimmy Carter struck a rare deal to rescue him from prison under the late Military leader General Sanni Abacha.

He disclosed that a visit was paid to Abacha by Carter to engineer release from prison under the fierce rule of the then military head of states.

The former President of Nigeria said: “President Carter was one of my foreign friends who stuck their necks out to save my life and to seek my release from prison.

“On President Carter’s visit to Nigeria, he got Abacha to agree to take me from detention to house arrest on my farm. But that did not last for too long.

“Many other friends and leaders intervened but President Carter was the only non-African leader, according to my information, that paid a visit to Abacha solely to plead for my release.

Obasanjo Remembers How Jimmy Carter Saved his Life

“I would remain ever grateful to all who worked for my release from Abacha’s gulag. Abacha ensured that I would not be released.

“Within a week of his death though, I was released by his successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who also facilitated my going round Africa and the rest of the world to thank all those who worked for my release.”

He also revealed that Carter later let him know of the push by Ted Turner, an American businessman and the founder of the Cable News Network (CNN), and other dignitaries to secure his freedom from jail.

“But the most surprising thing Carter said to me was, ‘Please see Ted Turner and thank him for his generosity.

“He came to me and asked me to get his friend, Obasanjo, released from prison. ‘I will take care of him and his family here or wherever he chooses to live.’

“I was touched and moved to tears. Obasanjo immediately went to Ted who expressed to me the same sentiment that President Carter expressed,” he said.

Carter And I Have Something in Common

In his tributes, tagged, “JIMMY CARTER: THE DEPARTURE OF A TITAN,” chief Obasabjo noted that he and Carter shared a lot of things in common, including childhood background.

According to the tributes, Obasanjo said, “In terms of early life background, I shared similarity with President Jimmy Carter.

“He was born into a farming family in Plains, Georgia, and I was born into a farming family in the rural village of Ibogun-Olaogun in Ogun State.

Obasanjo Remembers How Jimmy Carter Saved his Life

“He grew up under a father and mother who were disciplinarians, who instilled in him the essence of discipline, morality, hard work, integrity, kindness and humility, compassion for the poor and strong belief in GOD.

“My parents inculcated similar attributes in me as I was growing up in a rural area that had no pipe water, no electricity just as it was in Plains, Georgia, while Jimmy Carter was growing there.

“He beat me though in one respect; there was a road to his settlement, there was no road to my village.

“We walked to every place or, at best, we were carried on bicycles.

“President Carter had a military background which I had and, in fact, we met when I was a military Head of State. But if not that we were both in politics, our paths may not have crossed.

“When I became Nigeria’s military Head of State, one major issue that Africa was facing, among others, was removing the last vestiges of colonization and getting rid of apartheid all in Southern Africa.”

While expressing sending his deep condolence to the family of the late president, Obasanjo said  that he would miss Carter.

“A great and true friend but I know we shall meet again in Paradise, he said.

“One great lesson I learned from President Carter was that in his leadership, he carried along an army of co-workers that shared the ideal and the burden of the work with him.

“He led by example and in humility and that made success to attend his way,” he added.

Obasanjo Remembers How Jimmy Carter Saved his Life