Jos, Nigeria — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed gratitude to former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retired), for intervening on his behalf during General Sani Abacha’s military regime. Gowon revealed his role in appealing for clemency during the Plateau Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival, held at the 10 Commandments Prayer Altar in Du, Jos South Local Government Area.
Obasanjo, imprisoned under Abacha’s regime over an alleged coup plot, narrowly escaped execution—a fate Gowon claims to have actively worked to prevent. Speaking at the event, Gowon detailed his plea to Abacha, recounting how he wrote a personal letter imploring the then-dictator to spare Obasanjo’s life.
“I reminded him that God made him a leader to do good, not evil,” Gowon said, explaining that the letter was delivered to Abacha under the cover of night by his wife. “Things took a different turn after that,” Gowon added, expressing joy that Obasanjo was eventually released following Abacha’s death in June 1998 and went on to become Nigeria’s president in 1999.
Acknowledgment of Gratitude
The next day, at the same event, Obasanjo publicly acknowledged Gowon’s efforts, stating it was the first time he had heard of the intervention. “When I came out of prison, I went around thanking those who appealed for my release, both within and outside the country,” Obasanjo remarked. “But I did not know about your personal letter until you revealed it yesterday. I thank you for that.”
The Christmas carol, attended by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, former governors Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, and Boni Haruna, served as a platform for mutual expressions of respect and reflections on Nigeria’s tumultuous political history.
Obasanjo also commended Governor Mutfwang for his peace and development initiatives in Plateau State, urging him to sustain efforts for the betterment of the region.
A History of Rivalry
The exchange between the two former leaders offers a poignant reminder of their shared history. Obasanjo and the late General Murtala Mohammed led a coup on July 29, 1975, that ousted Gowon from power. Decades later, the acknowledgment of Gowon’s benevolent intervention during Abacha’s authoritarian rule underscores a moment of reconciliation in Nigeria’s often fractious political landscape.
As the nation continues to grapple with its complex past, such acts of magnanimity provide a glimpse of hope for unity and healing.