Obasanjo: My Wristwatch Disappeared While Extending a Hand, and I Declared, “This is Ajegunle”

Olusegun Obasanjo, who used to be President of Nigeria, recently told a funny story in an interview with Channels Television. The story was about Jimmy Carter’s trip to Nigeria in the late 1970s, when he was president of the United States. Carter made history by being the first U.S. president to legally go on a state visit to an African country....CONTINUE READING>>>

Obasanjo said that he had hoped Carter would win the U.S. election at the time because Carter’s policies were more in line with Nigeria’s goals. Before Carter’s trip, his close friend Andy Young was sent to Nigeria to make contacts.

Obasanjo said that Carter was a leader who knew the problems Nigeria was having with its development and who wanted to improve relations between the U.S. and Africa. Obasanjo told a funny, well-known joke about himself and Carter’s visit to remember it. Carter was being shown around Lagos by chopper, and he pointed out places like Victoria Island and Apapa.

When they got to a certain spot, though, the former president joked that he couldn’t figure out where it was. When he held out his hand, his watch “disappeared.” He joked, “This is Ajegunle.” The funny part of this story was Ajegunle, which is known for having a lively but difficult environment. The story shows not only Obasanjo’s sense of humour but also how friendly he was with Carter.

Obasanjo finished by saying that their friendship went beyond their time in office and was based on mutual respect and a desire to see the world improve. This interesting story shows how Nigeria and the United States have dealt with history, humour, and diplomatic issues.