Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has revealed how he intervened to save former President Olusegun Obasanjo from execution during Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime in 1995. Gowon shared this during the maiden Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival organized by the Plateau State Government, as reported by Daily Trust.
Gowon disclosed, “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.”
Obasanjo had been arrested and sentenced to death for allegedly plotting a coup against Abacha’s government. Despite maintaining his innocence, he was imprisoned for three years until his release in 1998, following Abacha’s death. Reflecting on Obasanjo’s eventual rise, Gowon said, “I’m glad that soon after that, things changed, and not only that Obasanjo left prison, he became our president in 1999.”
He praised the power of prayer and sincerity in fostering unity, adding, “I’m happy that today myself and Obasanjo are here to celebrate the unity of Plateau.”
Gowon also commended Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang for initiatives promoting peace, emphasizing the significance of the carol event as a platform for unity in a state with a history of security challenges.