Peter Obi Dismisses Political Ties to Abacha Regime, Shares Pictorial Evidence

Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has come forward to dismiss claims linking him to the late General Sani Abacha's military government.

The clarification comes in response to swirling accusations on social media and by political commentators who allege that Obi collaborated with Abacha’s regime, notorious for corruption and human rights violations during its 1993 to 1998 rule.

Among those making the allegations is former presidential aide Reno Omokri, who claimed Obi was involved with the regime via operations at Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Obi presented official documentation to support his claim that he was only part of a government task force set up to address port congestion issues. 

He said the appointment was non-political and based solely on his experience as a trader and importer.

“In consonance with my established principles of defending everything I am involved in, and in the interest of all men and women of goodwill, especially those committed to the pursuit of truth, I hereby attach the letter which documents my co-opting, along with others, into the Taskforce on the decongestion of the Ports,” Obi stated.

He emphasised that he had never had any prior meeting with General Abacha before the task force engagement and that the move was a collective effort by businesspeople facing severe delays at Nigerian ports.

“As I stated during my interview at the weekend and consistently maintained in the past, I had never met General Sani Abacha before 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,” he said.

He insisted that their goal was to improve efficiency and revive economic activity.

“Our intention was clear: to advocate for efficiency, and to propose practical steps towards restoring normalcy in port operations for the benefit of the wider business community and, ultimately, the Nigerian economy,” Obi noted.

Obi concluded that the explanation was necessary to clarify his civic role and push back against politically motivated narratives.

“This clarification is offered in the interest of truth, to reaffirm that our actions were driven solely by a sense of civic duty and not political ambition.

“I don’t expect this copious evidence to bury this Abacha case because the mischief makers have ulterior motives, but it’s being placed in the public space for posterity and in line with my transparency pledge to Nigerians on any issue I am involved in.”