Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon has disclosed how he intervened to save former President Olusegun Obasanjo from execution during the military regime of General Sani Abacha in 1995. The dramatic account was shared during the inaugural Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival organized by the Plateau State Government.
The revelation provides a compelling glimpse into the high-stakes political drama that unfolded during one of Nigeria’s darkest periods under military rule. According to Gowon, he took the extraordinary step of writing a personal letter to then-military ruler Abacha, making an impassioned plea for Obasanjo’s life. In a particularly striking detail, Gowon revealed that his wife delivered the letter to Abacha in Abuja under the cover of darkness, highlighting the sensitive and urgent nature of the intervention.
The events in question stemmed from 1995 when Obasanjo, already a former military head of state himself, was arrested and convicted of allegedly participating in a plot to overthrow Abacha’s government. Despite maintaining his innocence, Obasanjo was sentenced to death in a trial that drew international condemnation and highlighted the brutal nature of Abacha’s military regime.
“I pleaded with him that God made him a leader to do good and not evil,” Gowon recounted of his letter to Abacha. This simple but powerful appeal to Abacha’s conscience apparently had its intended effect, as Obasanjo’s death sentence was not carried out. The intervention proved historically significant, as Obasanjo would not only survive his imprisonment but go on to become Nigeria’s democratically elected president in 1999, following the unexpected death of Abacha in 1998 and Nigeria’s subsequent return to civilian rule.
The story takes on added poignancy given that both Gowon and Obasanjo were present at the carol service where these revelations were made. Their joint attendance at an event celebrating unity, decades after these dramatic events, serves as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and political survival in Nigeria’s often turbulent political landscape.
Obasanjo’s journey from death row to the presidency represents one of the most remarkable political comebacks in African history. After spending three years in prison under harsh conditions, his release came only after Abacha’s sudden death in June 1998. This twist of fate not only spared Obasanjo’s life but set the stage for his eventual emergence as a democratic leader, marking a crucial transition in Nigeria’s political evolution.
The significance of Gowon’s intervention cannot be overstated. As a former head of state himself, his appeal carried considerable moral weight, even in the context of Abacha’s authoritarian regime. The fact that he chose to make this private diplomatic effort public nearly three decades later adds an important chapter to Nigeria’s political history and provides valuable insights into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of power in Nigerian politics.
Speaking at the carol service, Gowon reflected on the power of prayer and sincerity in achieving positive outcomes, noting, “This is something that only prayers and sincerity can do.” The event itself, hosted in Plateau State, carried additional significance given the region’s history of security challenges. Gowon praised current Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s efforts to promote peaceful coexistence among the people of Plateau State.
This historical revelation serves as a reminder of how Nigeria’s political landscape has evolved from the days of military rule to its current democratic dispensation. It also highlights the crucial role that personal interventions and moral courage can play in shaping national events, even in the face of authoritarian power.
The story of Gowon’s intervention to save Obasanjo’s life stands as a testament to the importance of leadership, conscience, and the power of diplomatic persuasion in Nigeria’s political history. It also serves as a powerful reminder of how far the country has come from those dark days of military rule, while underlining the ongoing importance of unity and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria’s continuing democratic journey.
