Obasanjo at 87 says Jimmy Carter’s death a loss to world justice advocacy
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says former United States President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29 at age 100, was among those who helped him to remain alive till his current age of 87.
Obasanjo, who was military Head of State in 1978 when Carter became the first sitting US President ever to visit Nigeria, disclosed on Channels Television at his home in Abeokuta that Carter contributed to his longevity; he reflected on the friendship and fond memories they shared, but did not elaborate.
He said with Carter’s death Nigeria and Africa lost a friend and the international community lost an advocate for fairness and justice.
He recounted how Carter made tremendous contribution to Nigeria-U.S relations while he was US President.
Obasanjo was Nigeria’s military Head of State from February 1976 to October 1979 and later democratically elected President between May 1999 and May 2007.
Carter served as the 39th President of the US from 1977 to 1981 and spent his years after the White House advocating for global democracy, fighting neglected public health scourges and teaching Sunday school in the Baptist Church.
Born in rural Plains of Georgia, he died in the same house he and his wife – who he was married to for 77 years – bought in 1961.
His modest lifestyle has served as an inspiration to many Americans – even if other Presidents have not joined in themselves.
To name a few: allegations of John F. Kennedy’s extramarital trysts, Bill Clinton’s affair with a White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and Donald Trump’s well-documented sex scandals have “lowered all such standards in American politics,” said Barbara Perry, a professor specialising in the history of US Presidents.
“Americans have become immune to ethical standards in political life,” Perry lamented.
Even those who have stayed clean from personal scandal, such as Barack Obama or George W. Bush, have little in common with the modest lifestyle and outspoken advocacy of Carter’s post-presidency.
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