By Kolawole Ojebisi
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed gratitude to former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.) for reportedly pleading with late General Sani Abacha not to execute him.
Obasanjo was one of those imprisoned by the regime of Abacha over an alleged coup plot to overthrow Abacha’s government.
Speaking during the first ever Plateau Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival at 10 Commandments Prayer Altar in Du, Jos South LGA of the state, at the weekend, Gowon said he pleaded with Abacha to spare Obasanjo.
Aside from Gowon and Obasanjo, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, former governors, Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, Boni Haruna (Adamawa State) were among dignitaries who attended the event which held from Friday to Sunday.
In his remarks on his efforts to stop Obasanjo’s execution, Gowon had explained that he wrote a letter to Abacha, telling him that God made him a leader to do good, not evil, and therefore sought clemency for Obasanjo.
According to him, he sent the letter to Abacha through his (Gowon) wife to deliver to Abacha in Abuja in the night, adding that things took a different turn after that letter.
He then expressed his joy that Obasanjo did not only leave prison after spending three years in prison before his release following the death of Abacha in June 1998, but went on to become the nation’s president in 1999.
Reacting to Gowon’s revelation the next day (at the same Christmas carol), Obasanjo said he was not aware that Gowon made such effort until he mentioned it that day at the carol.
He said he knows that many people made different efforts for his release and after that, he went round to thank them within and outside the country.
“I want to acknowledge my boss, General Yakubu Gowon. Yesterday he made a revelation and I have to thank you specifically for that. When I came out of prison, I had the opportunity to thank friends, inside and outside the country who contributed to appeal and pray for my release from prison.
“And I went round the world thanking those that have been appealing and praying for my release from prison. But I did not know that you wrote a personal letter for my release until you said it yesterday; I thank you for that,” Obasanjo said.
Meanwhile, he thanked Mutfwang for his developmental efforts and peace initiative and urged him to continue to do more for the people of the state.
Recall that Gen Yakubu Gowon was Head of state for nine years, and his government was overthrown in a coup d’etat on July 29, 1975 announced by late Col Joe Garba, (as he then was) Commander of the Brigade of Guards.
Gowon was succeeded by Murtala Mohammed. Obasanjo succeeded late Gen Murtala Muhammad when the later was killed in a coup led by Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suwa Dimka on February 13, 1976.
Obasanjo successfully returned Nigeria to a civilian rule by handing the reins of power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a democratically elected president in 1979.
Obasanjo’s action signalled the beginning of the Second Republic which was eventually truncated by the December 1983 coup which brought Gen Muhammadu Buhari to power on December 31st, 1983.
The Buhari/Idiagbon regime was overthrown in 1985 and Gen Ibrahim Babangida assumed power as military president. Babangida was succeeded by Ernest Shonekan whose Interim National Government (ING) was eased out by late Gen Sanni Abacha who was succeeded by Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar following his death.
General Abubakar returned to power as a democratically elected president in 1999 after sixteen years of military interregnum.
Obasanjo was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and served for eight years (1999-2007) before handing over the baton to late Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
