Peter Obi Clarifies Past Interaction with Late General Abacha: “It Was Purely Civic, Not Political”

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has publicly clarified his past interaction with the late General Sani Abacha, stating that the meeting was strictly professional and not political.

Obi made the statement on Wednesday via X, explaining that the engagement was rooted in his role as a businessman and concerned importer, not as a political figure.

“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 wrote.

“We approached him not as political actors, but as concerned citizens seeking pragmatic solutions.”

According to Obi, he and a group of Nigerian importers were frustrated with delays and inefficiencies in the port clearance process, which were negatively affecting the business community.

The group requested a meeting with the Head of State at the time, General Abacha, to suggest practical improvements and propose policy changes aimed at speeding up operations at Nigerian ports.

Key Points Obi Emphasized:

• The meeting had no political undertone

• It was organized by business stakeholders, not government officials

• The objective was to promote port efficiency and economic reform

To further back his claims, Obi attached a letter confirming his selection to the port decongestion task force, underscoring that his involvement was civic, not partisan.

“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,” he said.

He acknowledged that critics might still misinterpret the facts, calling them “mischief makers with ulterior motives,” but said setting the record straight was essential for transparency and historical integrity.