President Jimmy Carter with the then-leader of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo (1977). Two years later, Obasanjo became the first military head of state to transfer power peacefully to a civilian regime in Nigeria. [1280 × 1873]
He's dressed like an overpowered protagonist in an anime, but I've always got a ton of respect for someone who had enormous power handing it over to a democratic government
I've had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Carter many times over through part of my family growing up down the road from his in Plains, Ga. He could not be a more genuine person. I fully understand that his presidency is divisive, and he gets a load of flack for it, but he's simply a wonderful person to be around.
Though I'm not particularly spiritual, I've been lucky enough to attend a couple of his sermons (he seldom does them anymore, due to age and stamina I believe) and he has a way about him that transcends his religious creed. It feels more like an endorsement of humanism and compassion than your traditional sermon.
Major props to this coolly-clothed Nigerian leader as well. As many commenters have pointed out to remove yourself from power for the good of your people is patriotism in its highest form, IMO.
Edit: If anyone would like to read further on what it's like to hear Jimmy Carter speak at the little church in Plains, I highly recommend this piece, as well as the rest of the work done on Bitter Southerner. They're a great outlet, and I feel capture well what it feels like to be a modern Southerner. Cheers y'all.
Wow, Olusegun Obasanjo relinquishes power in 1979 and he later gets democratically elected as the president 20 years later in 1999 then goes on to serve 8 years (two terms). That is pretty cool. source
The country falls into other dictatorship(s?) after 1979 though and wiki says that he was imprisoned between 1993–1998 because he "spoke out against the human rights abuses of the regime, and was imprisoned for alleged participation in an aborted coup based on testimony obtained via torture." only to be released following the dictator's unexpected death.
Recollecting his experience during the trial of the coup, Obasanjo says “My saddest day was when I sat in front of a military panel set up by late former Head of State, Sani Abacha to try me over a phantom coup, and sentenced to death and later commuted to 30 years imprisonment.”
The dictator Sani Abacha, at some point, promises elections and handing off power to a democratic regime but then strongarms political parties to make sure he was the only candidate. One day he unexpectedly dies (after feeling unwell while in the company of two prostitutes, so people think his drink was laced with poison).
After Abacha's death, Maj. Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, was sworn in as the country's head of state. Abubakar had never before held public office and was quick to announce a transition to democracy, which led to the election of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Surprising some critics of the country's military, Abubakar kept his word and transferred power to elected president Obasanjo on 29 May 1999. During his administration Nigeria adopted a new constitution May 5, 1999, which went into effect when Olusegun Obasanjo became president
So Olusegun gets an early out of the prison and gets elected to serve his two terms of presidency. Also Abdulsalami Abubakar is probably a pretty cool dude.
I know pretty much nothing about Nigerian history just that I found these interesting.
Some other trivia from wikipedia:
He has 20 children from 4 marriages. One of his sons is a Principal Program Manager for Microsoft.
Also:
In 1987, his second wife/ex-wife, Lynda, was ordered out of her car by armed men, and was fatally shot for failing to move quickly.
![image showing President Jimmy Carter with the then-leader of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo (1977). Two years later, Obasanjo became the first military head of state to transfer power peacefully to a civilian regime in Nigeria. [1280 × 1873]](db6d7ef3-545d-5d9d-85d6-248232481284.jpg)
Anghellik on May 8th, 2017 at 13:42 UTC »
He's dressed like an overpowered protagonist in an anime, but I've always got a ton of respect for someone who had enormous power handing it over to a democratic government
WcP on May 8th, 2017 at 14:18 UTC »
I've had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Carter many times over through part of my family growing up down the road from his in Plains, Ga. He could not be a more genuine person. I fully understand that his presidency is divisive, and he gets a load of flack for it, but he's simply a wonderful person to be around.
Though I'm not particularly spiritual, I've been lucky enough to attend a couple of his sermons (he seldom does them anymore, due to age and stamina I believe) and he has a way about him that transcends his religious creed. It feels more like an endorsement of humanism and compassion than your traditional sermon.
Major props to this coolly-clothed Nigerian leader as well. As many commenters have pointed out to remove yourself from power for the good of your people is patriotism in its highest form, IMO.
Edit: If anyone would like to read further on what it's like to hear Jimmy Carter speak at the little church in Plains, I highly recommend this piece, as well as the rest of the work done on Bitter Southerner. They're a great outlet, and I feel capture well what it feels like to be a modern Southerner. Cheers y'all.
earslap on May 8th, 2017 at 15:07 UTC »
Wow, Olusegun Obasanjo relinquishes power in 1979 and he later gets democratically elected as the president 20 years later in 1999 then goes on to serve 8 years (two terms). That is pretty cool. source
The country falls into other dictatorship(s?) after 1979 though and wiki says that he was imprisoned between 1993–1998 because he "spoke out against the human rights abuses of the regime, and was imprisoned for alleged participation in an aborted coup based on testimony obtained via torture." only to be released following the dictator's unexpected death.
The dictator Sani Abacha, at some point, promises elections and handing off power to a democratic regime but then strongarms political parties to make sure he was the only candidate. One day he unexpectedly dies (after feeling unwell while in the company of two prostitutes, so people think his drink was laced with poison).
So Olusegun gets an early out of the prison and gets elected to serve his two terms of presidency. Also Abdulsalami Abubakar is probably a pretty cool dude.
I know pretty much nothing about Nigerian history just that I found these interesting.
Some other trivia from wikipedia:
He has 20 children from 4 marriages. One of his sons is a Principal Program Manager for Microsoft.
Also: