‘I Had No Idea You Secretly Pleaded for My Life During Abacha’s Regime’

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed surprise and deep appreciation to former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), for secretly pleading with the late General Sani Abacha to spare his life during the 1995 coup trial.
Speaking at the Plateau Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival in Jos, Gowon revealed how he sent a personal letter to Abacha through his wife, urging the dictator to show mercy to Obasanjo, who had been sentenced to death for allegedly plotting a coup.
“I felt so bad about it,” Gowon said. “I wrote to Abacha, reminding him that God made him a leader to do good, not harm. I asked him to reconsider, and I sent the letter through my wife to Abuja in the middle of the night.” Gowon expressed gratitude that Obasanjo was not only released in 1998 after Abacha’s death but also went on to become Nigeria’s president in 1999.

Reacting the following day, Obasanjo admitted he had been unaware of Gowon’s intervention.
“I want to acknowledge my boss, General Yakubu Gowon. Yesterday, he made a revelation I had never heard before,” Obasanjo said. “When I came out of prison, I went around thanking those who appealed for my release, but I didn’t know you wrote a personal letter. Thank you for that.”
Obasanjo also praised Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his peace and development initiatives, encouraging him to continue his efforts for the state’s progress.
The gesture is particularly remarkable given that Obasanjo and the late Murtala Mohammed had overthrown Gowon’s government in a coup in 1975, underscoring the depth of Gowon’s statesmanship and forgiveness.