By Ono Yima
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has extended heartfelt thanks to General Yakubu Gowon for his personal intervention during his imprisonment under the military regime of General Sani Abacha. Obasanjo, who was unaware of Gowon’s efforts until recently, praised the former Head of State for writing directly to Abacha to plead for his life.
The revelation came to light during an interdenominational Christmas Carol event organised by the Plateau State government, where Gowon disclosed the details of his intervention. According to Gowon, he wrote a letter to Abacha and sent it through his wife, Victoria, urging clemency for Obasanjo. “I wrote a personal letter to General Abacha, appealing for Obasanjo’s life to be spared,” Gowon shared at the event.
On Saturday, while attending the same gathering, Obasanjo publicly acknowledged Gowon’s efforts, expressing both surprise and gratitude. “I want to acknowledge my boss, General Yakubu Gowon. Yesterday, he gave us a revelation, and I have to thank you especially for that,” Obasanjo remarked.
Reflecting on his experiences, Obasanjo recalled that after his release from prison, he had taken time to personally thank those known to have prayed for him and appealed for his freedom. However, he admitted that Gowon’s intervention had remained unknown to him until this recent disclosure. “When I came out of prison, I had the opportunity to thank those who contributed to appeals and prayed for my release. I did not know that you wrote a personal letter for my release until you said it yesterday. I thank you for that,” he said.
Obasanjo also used the occasion to commend Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang for organising the carol service, which he described as a unifying event fostering faith and community spirit. The former President highlighted the role of such gatherings in promoting hope and resilience during challenging times.
Gowon’s act of compassion exemplifies the importance of standing for justice and humanity, even in times of uncertainty. It also underscores the need for leaders to act selflessly for the greater good, setting an example for others to follow. Obasanjo’s public recognition of this gesture serves as a reminder of the profound impact one individual can have through courage and advocacy, even behind the scenes.