Our Engagement with General Abacha: Peter Obi Sets the Record Straight

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a press statement released on his verified X handle on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has addressed longstanding speculations regarding his encounter with the late General Sani Abacha.

Titled “Our Engagement with General Abacha: Setting the Record Straight,” Obi shared a 1996 letter from the Federal Ministry of Finance to clarify his involvement in a taskforce on port decongestion.

Our Engagement with General Abacha: Setting the Record Straight

In consonance with my established principles of defending everything I am involved in, and in the interest of all men and women of goodwill, especially those committed to the pursuit of truth, I hereby attach the… pic.twitter.com/idz1syyrYn

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) July 9, 2025

Obi emphasized that his first meeting with Abacha stemmed from a collective concern among traders and importers over delays in clearing goods at Nigerian ports.

“As I stated during my interview at the weekend and consistently maintained in the past, I had never met General Sani Abacha before that encounter,” Obi wrote. He stressed that the engagement was not politically motivated but a civic effort to address economic challenges affecting livelihoods.

The letter, dated April 24, 1996, appoints Obi and others as co-opted members of the Ports Decongestion Taskforce, documenting their role in coordinating efforts to improve port efficiency. Obi highlighted his inclusion alongside figures like Chief Chike Chigbue and Joe Best Okoye, underscoring the group’s focus on practical solutions for the business community.

I had never met General Sani Abacha before that encounter

“I don’t expect this copious evidence to bury this Abacha case because the mischief makers have ulterior motives,” Obi added, suggesting that despite the documentation, detractors may persist.

The clarification comes amid renewed attacks from APC members, who have accused Obi of collaborating with Abacha’s regime, known for its human rights abuses and corruption.

Critics, including some APC figures, alleged that Obi held significant roles, such as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, under Abacha, questioning his integrity and suitability as a leader.

NPA Toll Gate Apapa

These claims resurfaced recently, with party loyalists using the allegations to undermine Obi’s reformist image ahead of future political contests.

He framed the disclosure as a commitment to transparency and a record for posterity, aligning with his pledge to Nigerians.

As the debate unfolds, Obi’s release of the letter serves as a definitive attempt to reshape the narrative surrounding his brief interaction with Abacha over two decades ago.

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