Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has alleged that the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, wanted him eliminated because he considered him an obstacle to achieving his personal interests.
Obasanjo made the revelation while recalling his arrest and detention under Abacha’s military administration in a video released by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
According to a Daily Post report the former president also discussed his decision to retire from active military service and venture into agriculture after attaining prominent positions in the Nigerian military and government.
Obasanjo disclosed that he had attained the rank of a four-star general at the age of 42. He also recalled serving as Nigeria’s military Head of State, describing the position as the highest political office he could reach at the time.
Having achieved what he regarded as the height of his military career, Obasanjo said he saw no compelling reason to continue serving in the army. He therefore decided to retire and dedicate himself to farming.
He explained that agriculture became his primary focus after leaving the military and that his farming business was progressing well until his arrest under Abacha’s government disrupted his plans.
The former president alleged that Abacha wanted him killed because he believed his continued presence was preventing the military ruler from pursuing his personal interests. He described the arrest as a major setback that interrupted the new direction he had chosen for his life after retirement.
Speaking about his decision to become a farmer, Obasanjo said: “At the age of 42 I have become a four-star general, there was nothing I could do in the army, I had become the military Head of State, the highest political office. So what can I do, I decided I will go into farming, it really was going well and it went well until I was arrested.”
Obasanjo was arrested in 1995 during Abacha’s military rule and subsequently convicted over an alleged coup plot. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, although the sentence was later reduced.
Following Abacha’s death in June 1998, Obasanjo was released from prison. He subsequently contested the 1999 presidential election and emerged victorious, returning to national leadership as Nigeria’s civilian president.
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