How I begged Abacha not to execute Obasanjo in 1995 – Gowon

Gen. Yakubu Gowon has shared how he appealed to Gen. Sani Abacha not to carry out the execution of former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his alleged involvement in a coup plot in 1995.

The revelation was made by Gowon during the Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival organized by the Plateau Government.

Obasanjo was arrested and convicted by Gen. Abacha in 1995, but was released in 1998 following Abacha’s death.

“I wrote a letter to Abacha, I pleaded with him that God made him a leader to do good and not evil.

“I sent my wife with the letter in the middle of the night to Abacha in Abuja; I pleaded with him that such a thing should not happen.

“I’m glad that soon after that, things changed, and not only that Obasanjo left prison, he became our president in 1999.

“This is something that only prayers and sincerity can do; I’m happy that today myself and Obasanjo are here to celebrate the unity of Plateau,” he said.