The Digest:
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has invoked a past era of Nigerian dominance, recalling a time when the United States, under President Jimmy Carter, would not take major action in Africa without first informing Nigeria. The remarks, made at a youth mentorship retreat, serve as a pointed contrast to recent threats of unilateral US military action by former President Donald Trump, highlighting a perceived decline in the nation's global stature.
Key Points:
- Former President Obasanjo stated that the US under Jimmy Carter informed Nigeria of its major actions in Africa.
- He clarified that the US was "not seeking permission, but they would inform us."
- The comments come amid ongoing reactions to Donald Trump's threat to deploy troops to Nigeria.
- Obasanjo credited his administration and that of Gen. Murtala Mohammed with restoring Nigeria's global standing post-independence.
- He urged Nigerian youths to be "positively disruptive" to claim leadership roles.
- Obasanjo warned that if youths wait for current leaders, "there may be no tomorrow left to inherit."
- He emphasized that the youth's numerical strength "only matters when you use it."
Sources: The Cable
