Why Abacha imprisoned me – Obasanjo

• Obasanjo stated that his desire to halt Nigeria decline into a failed state was what inspired him to vie for presidency in 1999

Former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has opened up on the circumstances that led to his incarceration by late Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha, in 1995.

Obasanjo said his inability to stay away from public commentaries especially on issues of national and international significance led to his imprisonment by the military junta under Abacha.

Obasanjo stated that his desire to halt Nigeria decline into a failed state was what inspired him to vie for presidency in 1999.

He disclosed that before his second stint as Nigeria’s leader, he had transitioned into agriculture at the age of 42 following his military career.

He made the disclosure while addressing 15 young men and women who were selected from across the continent to participate in an interactive session at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, over the weekend.

Obasanjo urged the youth to assume constructive leadership positions for the continent.

Obasanjo ìn a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, spoke when the budding youth under the aegis of Future Africa Leaders Foundation came with the 10 winners of the Prestigious and Life Challenging Future Africa Leaders Awards.

He said his prison experience was part of the challenges of life he had, and the journey to it started with his inability not to always keep mute.

According to him: “I joined the Army, and at the age of 42, I finished my career as a military officer, but what could I do? I was still young, energetic, and dynamic, but I was still young. So, I took to Agriculture, and during that time, I went into prison, and that is not what I really wanted.

“Going into Prison is really a challenge because I refuse to keep quiet. For me, if there is anything to comment on, I did comment on them, and so, I landed in prison, and that is a challenge. And, when I came out from prison, the situation was so bad in the country that some people felt the need to be saved, and pressure started coming.”