Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has revealed that his intervention prevented the late Gen. Sani Abacha from executing former President Olusegun Obasanjo over an alleged coup plot in 1995.
Gowon disclosed this during the maiden edition of the Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival, organized by the Plateau State Government.
Recounting the events, Gowon said he wrote a letter to Abacha, pleading for leniency and urging him to lead with compassion.
“I wrote a letter to Abacha, pleading with him that God made him a leader to do good and not evil,” Gowon said. “I sent my wife with the letter in the middle of the night to Abacha in Abuja, urging him not to allow such a thing to happen.”
Obasanjo was arrested in 1995 by the Abacha regime, accused of plotting a coup to overthrow the government. Despite pleading innocent, he was convicted and sentenced to death. However, the sentence was commuted to a prison term, and he spent three years in detention before his release in 1998, following Abacha’s death.
Gowon expressed relief that his efforts contributed to a positive outcome. “I’m glad that soon after that, things changed. Not only did Obasanjo leave prison, but he also became our president in 1999,” Gowon remarked. “This is something that only prayers and sincerity can achieve.”
Gowon and Obasanjo both attended the carol event, with the former serving as the Special Guest of Honour and the latter as the Guest of Honour.
The event also served as an avenue to promote peace in Plateau State, which has faced significant security challenges. Gowon lauded Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his efforts to foster unity and peaceful coexistence among the state’s residents.
“The unity of Plateau is crucial, and events like this provide a platform for the people to come together and pray for the progress of the state,” Gowon concluded.
The event highlighted the power of dialogue, prayer, and forgiveness in fostering national unity and reconciliation.
