Former Head of State, Normal Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has revealed that he pleaded with the late Normal Sani Abacha to spare the lifetime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had been sentenced to dying over an alleged coup plot in 1995.
Gowon disclosed this on Friday through the maiden Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Reward Pageant organised by the Plateau State Authorities in Jos.
Obasanjo, who was a Particular Visitor of Honour on the occasion, was arrested and convicted throughout Abacha’s regime on allegations of planning to overthrow the federal government.
Regardless of sustaining his innocence, Obasanjo was sentenced to dying however later launched in 1998 after Abacha’s demise.
Recounting his efforts to save lots of Obasanjo, the previous Head of State, who was the Particular Visitor of Honour, mentioned he wrote a letter to Abacha, interesting for clemency.
“I wrote a letter to Abacha, pleading with him that God made him a frontrunner to do good, not evil,” Gowon acknowledged.
He added that he despatched his spouse to personally ship the letter to Abacha in Abuja late at night time.
He added, “I despatched my spouse with the letter in the course of the night time to Abacha. I pleaded with him that such a factor [Obasanjo’s execution] mustn’t occur.
“I’m glad that quickly after that, issues modified, and never solely that Obasanjo left jail, he turned our president in 1999.
“That is one thing that solely prayers and sincerity can do; I’m blissful that as we speak myself and Obasanjo are right here to have a good time the unity of Plateau.”
Obasanjo spent three years in jail earlier than his launch following Abacha’s sudden dying on June 8, 1998, an occasion that paved the way in which for his eventual return to politics and his election as Nigeria’s president in 1999.