Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has clarified the circumstances surrounding his past engagement with former military ruler, General Sani Abacha, insisting the interaction had no political undertone.
He said this in a statement released on Wednesday on his X page, titled ‘Our Engagement with General Abacha: Setting the Record Straight’.
Obi explained that his involvement with the Abacha administration was strictly in response to pressing economic concerns at the time, particularly the prolonged delays in clearing goods at Nigerian ports.
According to him, the engagement stemmed from a collective effort by traders and importers, including himself, to address inefficiencies in port operations that were adversely affecting businesses and livelihoods.
He said they approached the military government purely as concerned citizens, not political actors.
Obi also shared a letter documenting his co-option, alongside others—into a task force set up to decongest the ports, underlining his commitment to transparency and openness in all matters involving his name.
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“As I stated during my interview at the weekend and have consistently maintained, I had never met General Abacha before that encounter,” he said.
“Our intention was clear: to advocate for efficiency and propose practical solutions to restore normalcy to port operations for the wider benefit of the business community and Nigerian economy.”
He stressed that the clarification was not an attempt to silence critics but a necessary step to ensure the truth was on record.
“I do not expect this evidence to bury the Abacha case, as mischief makers clearly have ulterior motives. However, it is being made public in the interest of posterity and in line with my pledge of transparency to Nigerians,” he added.
Obi reaffirmed that his actions at the time were guided by civic responsibility rather than political ambition.
