Obasanjo Reacts to Gowon’s Claim of Intervention to Save Him from Abacha’s Regime
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to a recent revelation by former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, that he intervened to save Obasanjo’s life during the regime of the late General Sani Abacha. Gowon had disclosed during a public gathering in Jos that he played a crucial role in preventing Obasanjo’s execution after he was convicted on charges of treason in 1995.
Obasanjo, in his response during an interaction expressed surprise at Gowon’s statement, stating that he was unaware of such intervention until now. “I did not know that General Gowon intervened to save my life. If this is true, I am deeply grateful to him,”
The incident in question dates back to the mid-1990s when Obasanjo was implicated in an alleged coup plot against Abacha’s government. Following a military tribunal, he was sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Obasanjo remained in detention until Abacha’s sudden death in 1998, after which he was released.
During his revelation, Gowon explained that he had approached Abacha and other senior members of the regime, urging them to reconsider the execution of Obasanjo, a fellow military officer and former leader. Gowon’s intervention, according to him, was grounded in the principles of camaraderie and national unity. “I felt it was my duty as a former head of state to appeal for clemency. Nigeria could not afford to lose a man of Obasanjo’s caliber under such circumstances,”
Communicating further, Obasanjo reflected on the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in leadership. He acknowledged that his eventual survival and subsequent return to political leadership showed the unpredictability of life and the importance of divine intervention. “Whatever was done to spare my life, whether by Gowon or others, I see it as an act of God. I harbor no bitterness over what happened during those dark times,”
The revelation has sparked renewed discussions on the turbulent political history of Nigeria during the Abacha era and the role of elder statesmen in navigating national crises. Nigerians have lauded Gowon for his behind-the-scenes diplomacy, which may have contributed to preserving the life of one of Nigeria’s most influential leaders.
