Gowon Recalls Plea to Abacha to Spare Obasanjo's Life

Former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, reveals how he intervened to save Olusegun Obasanjo's life during Abacha's regime.

Gowon Recalls Plea to Abacha to Spare Obasanjo's Life

Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has revealed that he intervened on behalf of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was sentenced to death by the late General Sani Abacha's regime in 1995. Gowon made this disclosure at the maiden edition of the Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival organized by the Plateau State Government.

Obasanjo was arrested and convicted of being part of a planned coup to overthrow Abacha's government, despite pleading not guilty. Gowon shared that he wrote a personal letter to Abacha, urging him to spare Obasanjo's life. In the letter, Gowon appealed to Abacha's sense of leadership, stating, “God made you a leader to do good, not evil.”

Gowon's wife delivered the letter to Abacha in Abuja in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Obasanjo's sentence was commuted, and he was released from prison in 1998. In a surprising turn of events, Obasanjo went on to become the President of Nigeria in 1999. Gowon expressed his gratitude that his intervention contributed to Obasanjo's release and subsequent presidency.

Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Nigerian head of state and president, spent three years in prison before his release in 1998. His imprisonment was a result of his criticism of General Sani Abacha's administration, and he was convicted of being part of a planned coup despite protesting his innocence. Obasanjo was released from prison following Abacha's death on June 8, 1998.

In an unrelated event, Obasanjo and former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, were both honored guests at a separate occasion. While Gowon was the Special Guest of Honour, Obasanjo was the Guest of Honour.

“I wrote a letter to Abacha; I pleaded with him that God made him a leader to do good and not evil. I sent my wife with the letter in the middle of the night to Abacha in Abuja; I pleaded with him that such a thing should not happen. I'm glad that soon after that, things changed, and not only that Obasanjo left prison, he became our president in 1999.

“This is something that only prayers and sincerity can do; I'm happy that today Obasanjo and I are here to celebrate the unity of Plateau,” he said.

Gowon expressed gratitude to the state government for organizing the carol, believing it would foster greater unity among the citizens of Plateau State. He acknowledged the state's history of security challenges, emphasizing the importance of events like the carol in bringing people together.

Gowon praised Governor Caleb Mutfwang's efforts to promote peaceful coexistence among the people. The governor's initiatives have been instrumental in creating an environment conducive to unity and progress in the state.