Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed appreciation to General Yakubu Gowon(rtd), former Head of State for the role he(Gowon) played towards ensuring that he(Obasanjo) was not executed by the late military dictator, Sanni Abacha over alleged phantom coup against him(Obasanjo)
Penpushing reports that Obasanjo profusely expressed his appreciation, following the first-time revelation by Gowon at Plateau State government organized Interdenominational Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival, on major role he played to save Obasanjo’s life
The former President who was amazed by his former boss revelation explained that he was hearing that for the first time, adding that if he had known earlier, he would have personally visit Gowon, as done to others who contributed to his release to thank them
“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’, Obasanjo said.
“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’, he added.
Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that Gowon had earlier disclosed at the venue that he pleaded with late military dictator General Sanni Abacha not to execute Obasanjo over a phantom coup he (Obasanjo) was alleged to have been involved in 1995.
“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 also reports that Obasanjo, it is recalled, 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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