Nigeria, Feb. 6 -- Even as Nigeria's stature in the global community has diminished due to its economic and security crisis, an international visitor to the country will want to meet two global figures who reside here. Both men live in the same town, and they are from the same state, even though they are not the best of friends.

Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, is home to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who remains the longest-serving Nigerian leader, having been in office as both a military ruler and elected president for a combined period of 11 years, 7 months, and 16 days. It is also the home of Africa's first Nobel laureate, Professor Oluwole Akinwande Soyinka. Both men live in their respective private estates, occupying larg...