Obasanjo Reveals Why He Was Jailed Under Abacha

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his imprisonment under the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, in 1995, was a result of his refusal to remain silent on pressing national and international issues.

Obasanjo made the disclosure during an interactive session with 15 young leaders selected from across Africa under the aegis of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation.

Naijaonpoint reports that the event, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, also featured winners of the Future Africa Leaders Awards.

Obasanjo recounted how he transitioned into agriculture after retiring from the military at the age of 42. He noted that his outspoken nature often landed him in trouble.

“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. So, I took to agriculture,” Obasanjo said.

“During that time, I went into prison, and that is not what I really wanted. Going into prison is really a challenge because I refused to keep quiet. For me, if there was anything to comment on, I did, and so, I landed in prison,” he added.

Obasanjo explained that upon his release, the deteriorating state of the country prompted calls for him to step in and run for president in 1999.

“When I came out of prison, the situation was so bad in the country that some people felt the need for it to be saved, and pressure started coming,” he said.

Concerns About Africa’s Debt Crisis

Responding to questions about Africa’s debt situation, Obasanjo expressed concerns about the reckless accumulation of debt by some countries on the continent.

“Most of the debts cannot be explained. Some are outright corruption,” he lamented.

Citing an example, he said, “There was a particular state in Nigeria where a loan was taken for a carpet industry, but the site for the project was never even cleared. Yet, the entire loan was repaid.”