Tinubu, Obasanjo, el-Sisi, other African leaders pay tributes to late Jimmy Carter

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*On April 8, 2014, President Carter attended the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library.

As other world leaders react to the death of the 39th United States President Jimmy Carter, President Bola Tinubu said the American statesman was an exceptional “beacon of service to humanity.”

The president made the eulogy in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

Reflecting on Carter’s post-presidential accomplishments, Tinubu noted: “President Carter showed us all how to remain relevant and impactful after leaving the esteemed position of President of the United States.”

He praised the late Carter who died on Sunday, December 29, at 100, for his unwavering dedication to peace, democracy, and the eradication of tropical diseases, which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize and the admiration of leaders worldwide.

Tinubu also acknowledged Carter’s significant contributions to Nigeria, particularly through The Carter Center’s efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease and river blindness.

“He tackled the challenges the developing world faced, from combating diseases to mediating conflicts and promoting democratic values.

He exemplified grace, dignity, and a profound respect for humanity,” he added.

Tinubu recalled Carter’s historic visit to Nigeria in March 1978, Tinubu fondly remembered the former president’s three-day stay at the State House in Marina, Lagos where he met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo (then a military head of state).

‘Under Carter’s leadership, this visit marked a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy.

“It laid the groundwork for a pragmatic relationship between the United States and Africa, with Nigeria at its heart,” Tinubu said.

For his part, Obasanjo praised the late American statesman for his lifelong commitment to humanitarian causes.

Speaking on Arise TV yesterday, Obasanjo described Carter as a “symbol of power.”

He said Carter understood how to wield his strength responsibly during his tenure as American president.

“Jimmy Carter was a man who understands power, but he also understands that the duty of power is rarely not in using it but in understanding it.

“The power lies in people knowing it is there and you not using it. Don’t use a hammer to kill an ant, and that is what you see in President Carter. He was humble with power, and he knew how to use power,” he said.

On Carter’s legacy of peace during his presidential reign, Obasanjo said: “Bringing Israel and Egypt together was one great achievement in his legacy. And when you read the book that Jimmy Carter wrote on the Palestinian-Israeli problem, he understood the problem. He understood the genesis, and he prescribed what I will call equitable solution, and that is one thing any leader should do. You don’t jump into problems without understanding it, without knowing it.

“There are many ways by which you can kill a chicken, but what is the best way? And that is one good lesson we should learn from President Carter and his legacy.”

“He was a great leader by any standard. Humility, his own was all written around him. When he left government, I was on the board of trustees of Ford Foundation, and Ford Foundation had to send us together on an errand. Fort Foundation policy was that up to a certain distance, we will only go by business class. President Carter, as retired President of America, did not insist that we will go by first class. We were together in business class.

*Carter, Obasanjo in 1978 during the former’s visit to Nigeria

“After he left government, he devoted his life to humanitarian affairs, civil rights, and western liberal democracy, and he was persistent on that. And I believe Jimmy Carter is what I call the Symbol of Power, not the bully that people bring that to mean nowadays.”

“He was active until he had no power to be active anymore,” he said.

He said leaders, both incumbent and past, should learn from Carter’s legacy that one’s work does not simply end once they leave public office but the work should continue for the good of their country and the world at large.

“I believe a leader – if you have the fortune, the opportunity, or the grace of God to be the president or the prime minister or be at the top politically at your country, and then you recently disengaged from that responsibility, your task should not end there, because the one good thing about that is that rarely whether you spend 2 years, 4 years, 5 years, 10 years, 12 years, you have acquired certain experience.

“You have also made certain friends, and they’re all there to be tapped into for the good of the world, not only for your country. Part of the problem of the world today is what I call deficit of leadership. And I’m not talking about leadership only at the political level. Of course, at the political level matters most because politics drives all other things, but at all levels, and I’m not also talking about incumbent leaders. Incumbent leaders matter more because they have the power and all that goes with the power, but those that also have had opportunity and God has endowed, they should realise that the world we are living in, that we call a village, if anybody fails to play his part and his role in that village, that village will soon be spoiled, and that must be clear to all of us,” Obasanjo added.

In his eulogy, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said: “In this moment of sorrow, I extend my sincerest condolences to the family of former American President Jimmy Carter, as well as to the president and the people of the United States of America.

“President Carter was a symbol of humanitarian and diplomatic efforts, his deep belief in peace and justice has inspired many individuals and institutions around the world to follow his path.

“His efforts in preserving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel will remain etched in history, and his humanitarian work demonstrates a standard of love, peace, and brotherhood.

“His legacy ensures that he will be remembered as one of the world’s most prominent leaders in service to humanity. May God have mercy on former President Jimmy Carter.”

In his tribute, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa described Carter as a compassionate leader and a champion of human rights.

The South African Government News Agency quoted Ramaphosa as expressing sadness about Carter’s passing “who we remember as an outstanding, compassionate leader and champion of human rights and peace globally.”

Ramaphosa said Carter was an outspoken critic of the apartheid state at a time when the regime was trying to ingratiate itself with influential economies around the world and justify its inhumane policies.

“Among his many distinguished roles, President Carter holds a special place in our history as a member of The Elders, a collective of global leaders brought together on President Nelson Mandela’s 89th birthday in 2007 to be independent moral voices for peace and leadership.

“President Carter’s record includes his engagement in diverse peace negotiations around the world and his unequivocal categorisation of the denial of fundamental human rights and statehood to the people of Palestine as a manifestation of apartheid,” Ramaphosa said in a post on X.

He added that the former statesman justly deserved the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development”.

“We celebrate his legacy, his extended lifetime and his enduring ideas. May his soul rest in peace,” the President said.

For the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, the late American president was a testament of service and humility.

“The world mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter of the United States of America, a leader whose life was a testament to service, humility, and an unwavering commitment to humanity.

“For us in Nigeria, and indeed across Africa, his contributions were not just distant policies but direct interventions that saved lives, transformed communities, and inspired generations.

“President Carter’s relentless fight against diseases such as Guinea worm and river blindness through The Carter Center will forever remain etched in the annals of global health advocacy.

“His work reached into some of the most marginalised and vulnerable communities in Africa, demonstrating that leadership transcends borders when driven by compassion.

“In Nigeria, his initiatives brought hope and relief to countless citizens. Through his advocacy and the empowerment of local systems, he provided tools for sustainable development. Beyond health, his deep-seated belief in democracy and justice resonated with those fighting for freedom and equality worldwide.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the American people, and all who cherished his profound legacy. May he rest in peace, having fought the good fight and finished his race with grace,” Obi said.