Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has revealed a tense and critical exchange he had with late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, over the arrest of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a recent interview on Arise TV, Anyaoku disclosed that he personally advised Abacha against detaining Obasanjo, urging a less aggressive approach for the sake of Nigeria’s international reputation.
According to Anyaoku, he had cautioned Abacha that putting Obasanjo behind bars would damage the country’s image globally, given the former leader’s international standing.
“I told him it would be unwise to arrest General Obasanjo,” Anyaoku said. “I advised that if he felt it was necessary, he should consider placing him under house arrest instead.”
He explained that Obasanjo was widely admired as a democrat, having been the first military ruler in Africa to voluntarily hand over power to a civilian administration in 1979. Anyaoku warned that treating such a figure with hostility would only attract global condemnation.
In response to his counsel, Abacha offered a defiant declaration of patriotism.“Your Excellency, you know I love this country, I love our country and I’m prepared to die for it,” Abacha reportedly said.
Anyaoku replied firmly, reflecting both his seniority and his deep national commitment. “Well, Excellency, I’m older than you. I have loved the country longer than you have,” he told the military leader.
