FORMER Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has revealed how he intervened to prevent the execution of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was sentenced to death by the late General Sani Abacha in 1995 over an alleged coup plot.
Gowon made this disclosure during the maiden edition of the Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival, organised by the Plateau State Government, where he served as the special guest of honour.
Recall that in 1995, Obasanjo, a former military Head of State, was accused of participating in a putsch to overthrow Abacha.
Despite pleading his innocence, he was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by the Abacha-led junta.
He consequently spent three years in prison before his release in 1998 following Abacha’s sudden death.
The octogenarian went on to become a democratically-elected president who led Nigeria between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2007.
Speaking of his intervention, Gowon explained how he wrote a letter to Abacha and sent it to him through his wife at night, pleading for clemency.
Gowon further expressed gratitude that Obasanjo was eventually released and went on to become Nigeria’s president.
“I wrote a letter to Abacha; I pleaded with him that God made him a leader to do good and not evil. I sent my wife with the letter in the middle of the night to Abacha in Abuja; I pleaded with him that such a thing should not happen.
“I’m glad that soon after that, things changed, and not only that Obasanjo left prison, he became our president in 1999.
“This is something that only prayers and sincerity can do; I’m happy that today myself and Obasanjo are here to celebrate the unity of Plateau,” he said.
During the event, Gowon commended the Plateau State Government for organising the carol, describing it as a platform to foster unity among citizens.
He noted that the state had faced significant security challenges in recent years and emphasised the importance of such gatherings in promoting communal harmony.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M