Obasanjo reminisced on Nigeria’s past global influence and urged youths to take active leadership roles amid Trump’s controversial remarks on insecurity.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recalled the period when Nigeria enjoyed deep respect from the United States during the administration of late President Jimmy Carter. According to DAILY TRUST reporting, Obasanjo spoke on Monday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat (6.0) organised by the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.
His remarks came amid controversy sparked by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments threatening military intervention in Nigeria if killings by jihadist groups persist. The Federal Government dismissed Trump’s allegations, saying insecurity affects all faiths.
Obasanjo did not directly address the issue but reflected on the historic U.S.-Nigeria relations, recalling that Carter “would not do anything in Africa without informing us.” He said Nigeria lost international confidence after independence but regained it under the Murtala-Obasanjo regime.
The elder statesman also urged African youths to be “positively disruptive” and take leadership seriously, citing Cameroon’s Paul Biya as an example of Africa’s sit-tight leaders. “You are leaders of today… you have the number, but the number will only matter when you use it to your advantage,” he said.
Since Obasanjo’s exit from office, no U.S. president has visited Nigeria.