Obasanjo Pays Tribute To Castro At Posthumous Centenary

By Chinedu Echianu

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has paid glowing tribute to late Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, describing him as “an icon, one of the greatest leaders of our time and a unique human being.”

Obasanjo spoke in Abuja at an event held to commemorate Castro’s 100th posthumous birthday, attended by the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales-Palmero; President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People (ICAP) Fernando Gonzalez Liort, diplomats, trade unions, as well as Nigerian doctors and professors trained in Cuba.

Reflecting on his personal relationship with the revolutionary leader, Obasanjo said it was a duty to honor the memory of a man he considered a friend and a man of unusual virtue.

“We met when I was military Head of State. At the UN General Assembly, I always encountered Fidel, a humorous and wonderful man who often ignored the red light signaling the end of a head of state’s presentation. I found that quite amusing,” Obasanjo recalled.

He praised Castro’s contributions to Africa, particularly his role in supporting liberation struggles in Angola. Obasanjo also highlighted the Cuban leader’s commitment to education, healthcare, and agriculture.

“Fidel told me that education in Cuba was entirely free, and healthcare, including drugs, was free, except in cases where certain drugs were not available in Cuban hospitals. Agriculture was one of the mainstays of their economy at that time,” he said.

According to Obasanjo, Castro extended direct support to Nigeria by offering full scholarships to one hundred Nigerians to train as medical doctors, providing doctors across Africa, and even supplying 96 dairy cattle to aid his personal farming venture, which was originally focused on poultry.

Obasanjo further commended Cuba as one of the few mixed-race countries where there is no discrimination between blacks and whites.

He also recalled visiting Castro more than a dozen times and making a special trip to see him after his retirement in a modest cottage, where the former Cuban leader dedicated his time to writing books and articles until his death.

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of photo souvenirs to Obasanjo by Nigerian doctors and professors trained in Cuba in recognition of his longstanding ties with Cuba and its late leader.