Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has shared how he narrowly escaped death during the rule of late military dictator, General Sani Abacha. Obasanjo said Abacha planned to eliminate him, the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua to hold onto power.
Obasanjo gave the shocking revelation during the inauguration of “The Noah’s Ark,” a new Assemblies of God Church at Ogbor Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise, Imo State. The event took place last weekend and drew notable Christian leaders and politicians.
He explained that Abacha was determined to ensure none of them came out of detention alive. According to Obasanjo, Abacha believed their deaths would remove all obstacles to his grip on power.
Abacha’s Deadly Plan and Obasanjo’s Experience in Detention
“When I was arrested, the man who arrested me, I thought he was making a mistake,” Obasanjo said. He continued, “He had decided that some of us must be liquidated if he has to be in power permanently.”
Obasanjo was arrested in 1995 and imprisoned on charges many believed were politically motivated. He was accused of plotting a coup against the Abacha regime, but no solid evidence was provided.
In detention, Obasanjo said he was initially confused and thought his arrest was an error. But soon, he realised it was intentional. “When I realised that it wasn’t a mistake, I was full of prayers, including praying as Stephen prayed,” he recalled. He adjusted the prayer, saying, “Whether they know what they are doing or they do not know what they are doing, God forgive them.”
He said he surrendered himself to God and accepted whatever would happen. “I resigned myself into the hands of God,” he stated.
Two Died, One Survived – The Final Outcome
Obasanjo revealed that Abacha had openly declared that Abiola, Yar’Adua and Obasanjo himself would not leave prison alive.
“The man who arrested us boasted that three of us will not come out of the detention or prison alive – that MKO Abiola will not come out alive, that Shehu Yar’Adua will not come out alive and that Olusegun Obasanjo will not come out alive,” he stated.
Abiola died in prison in 1998 under mysterious circumstances, just before his expected release. Yar’Adua died in custody in 1997. Only Obasanjo survived. “Two of the three he had planned not to come out alive did not come out alive,” Obasanjo confirmed. “I did come out alive not because of my power but the special grace of God.”
His release came after Abacha’s sudden death in June 1998. The following year, Obasanjo became Nigeria’s elected civilian president.
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