Meeting with Abacha wasn’t political, Obi says, provides evidence

Meeting with Abacha wasn’t political, Obi says, provides evidence

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has offered clarification regarding his past interaction with Nigeria’s late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, during the military era.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and titled “Our Engagement with General Abacha: Setting the Record Straight,” Obi, through his media aide Valentine Obienyem, released a copy of the official letter that documented his selection—alongside other importers and traders—into the Taskforce on Port Decongestion.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said he deemed it necessary to provide this clarification “in the interest of all men and women of goodwill, especially those committed to the pursuit of truth.”

According to Obi, “The meeting with General Abacha was not political in nature. I had never met General Sani Abacha, prior to that encounter. Our meeting with him was borne out of collective concern as traders and importers over the prolonged delays in clearing goods at the ports.

“We approached him not as political actors, but as concerned citizens seeking pragmatic solutions to a matter affecting economic activity and livelihoods.

“The objective of the meeting was to advocate for efficiency and to propose practical steps to restore order and productivity at the nation’s ports. Our actions were driven solely by a sense of civic duty and not political ambition. This clarification is offered in the interest of truth.”