Trump’s threat: Under my watch US couldn’t act in Africa without Nigeria’s knowledge – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says that under his government, the late United States President Jimmy Carter could not do anything in Africa without his knowledge.

Obasanjo stated this on Monday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat (6.0) organised by the Youth Development Centre, an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL.

The comment is coming following the ongoing controversy over President Donald Trump’s military invasion threat against Nigeria.

Recall that between October 31 and November 1, Trump had condemned continued killings targeting Christians in Nigeria, declaring America’s readiness to send its military to Nigeria if the federal government failed to stop the killings by jihadist groups.

Trump’s declaration and threat have been greeted with divergent reactions from both the federal government and prominent Nigerian leaders and religious organisations.

In particular, the federal government rejected Trump’s allegations, insisting that the country’s insecurity affects all religious groups.

Although, Obasanjo did not make a direct statement on the ongoing controversy, but he tactfully recalled how the US under Carter held Nigeria in high esteem.

Obasanjo and Carter, who died in December 2024, were regarded as best of friends.

In January this year, Obasanjo held a memorial service in Abeokuta in honour of Carter, where he paid glowing tribute to the late US President who died at age 100.

According to Obasanjo, right from independence, the world and, indeed, America saw Nigeria as Africa’s leader, saying the country lost the confidence at some point before the Murtala-Obasanjo military regime “brought it back”.

Going down memory lane, Obasanjo said Carter, as US President, would not do anything on African soil without informing the Nigerian government, when he was Head of State.

“They were not taking permission from us but they will tell us that ‘they are doing this.

“When I was president and Head of State, three American presidents came to Nigeria. They have not lost anything that they were looking for in Nigeria. What did they see?

“At Independence, the world saw Nigeria as a giant coming up. Soon after independence, we lost that. When Murtala and I came into government, we brought it back,” he said.