‘I do not believe that one must occupy the government house to make useful contributions to one's society’, Obasanjo wrote in 1990. ‘And out of public office, one becomes unconstrained in creating a larger constituency for oneself, even a constituency as large as the world itself.’ This he had indeed achieved during the previous decade. He had become a world statesman, called upon to mediate in international disputes and advise on global problems, considered for the most demanding of international posts. This in turn had compelled a deeper involvement in Nigerian public life. ‘How else can I be credible in condemning injustice, racism, violation of human rights and lack of democracy in South Africa or in any foreign country for that matter, if I condone similar tendencies or practices in my own country or region?’ he demanded. Moreover, his international activities provided the education that he had been denied in youth and had lacked when he hesitantly accepted office. ‘I believe that learning is a continuous life-long process’, he said. Nor was it enough merely to learn; it was necessary also to teach. His most continuous activity during these years was to organise the Africa Leadership Forum, based at his Ota farm, to provide potential African leaders with the preparation he had lacked. This chapter is about Obasanjo's globalisation.

His first and perhaps most formative international involvement after leaving office was membership, in 1981–2, of a commission chaired by the former Swedish Premier, Olaf Palme, which studied issues of disarmament and international security.