- Abacha aborted Nigeria’s third republic and, under him, Nigerians experienced the most draconian and authoritarian rule, which was occasioned by widespread civil repression, human rights abuses, economic crisis and grand looting of the nation’s treasury.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has cleared the air regarding the controversy surrounding his roles and actions in Nigeria’s socio-political space under the junta of former dictator the late General Sani Abacha.
The former Anambra State governor also clarified his relationship with the former Head of State.
His clarification followed recent accusations that he worked for Abacha and benefited from his military regime that ruled Nigeria from 1993 until he died in 1998.
Abacha aborted Nigeria’s third republic and, under him, Nigerians experienced the most draconian and authoritarian rule, which was occasioned by widespread civil repression, human rights abuses, economic crisis and grand looting of the nation’s treasury.
However, Obi refuted the allegations of working for Abacha, describing those peddling the claim as mischief makers.
He debunked the allegations in a post on X on Wednesday and also published an official appointment letter from 1996 to debunk the allegations that he worked for the military leader.
He released a document appointing him to a Federal Government Task Force on Port Decongestion.
“In consonance with my established principles of defending everything I am involved in, and in the interest of all men and women of goodwill, especially those committed to the pursuit of truth, I hereby attach the letter which documents my co-opting, along with others, into the Taskforce on the decongestion of the Ports.
“As I stated during my interview at the weekend and consistently maintained in the past, I had never met General Sani Abacha before that encounter,” he stated.
Obi explained that his role was purely economic and civic, not political as it was a civic response to inefficiencies that enveloped the port operations at the time.
He also disclosed that the group’s intention was to clamour for favourable logistics and economic outcomes for Nigerian businesses.
He expressed doubt that the release of the document would be enough to put the controversy to rest as the people behind it are “mischief makers with ulterior motives”.
However, he said that placing the record in the public domain was consistent with his long-standing commitment to transparency and accountability.
“This clarification is offered in the interest of truth, to reaffirm that our actions were driven solely by a sense of civic duty and not political ambition.
“I don’t expect this copious evidence to bury this Abacha case because the mischief makers have ulterior motives, but it’s being placed in the public space for posterity and in line with my transparency pledge to Nigerians on any issue I am involved in,” Obi added.
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