The Former Head of State in Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon(rtd), has disclosed that he pleaded with late military dictator General Sanni Abacha not to execute former President Olusegun Obasanjo over a phantom coup he (Obasanjo) was alleged to have been involved in 1995.
Penpushing reports that Gowon disclosed this at the maiden edition of the Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carol and Praise Festival organised by the Plateau State Government, where he was Special Guest of Honour and Obasanjo was the Guest of Honour, respectively.
“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’, Gowon stated.
“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 added.
Penpushing further reports that the elder stateman thanked the Plateau state government for organising the carol, adding that it would further unite the citizens of the state, pointing out that the state had gone through myriad of security challenges, hence the carol provided suitable avenue for the people to commune.
The former Head of State at the ceremony, commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for the various initiatives by his administration aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence among the resident of the state.
Penpushing also reports that, it is recalled that Obasanjo was arrested over a phantom coup in 1995 by the military administration of late Abacha and convicted of being part of planned to overthrow his government, but inspite of pleading his (Obasanjo) innocence Abacha government sentenced him to death
Meanwhile, Obasanjo spent three years in prison before he was released in 1998 following the death of the military dictator (Abacha) on June 8, 1998.
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