Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has again addressed public speculation over his involvement with the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, during the 1990s, reaffirming that his engagement at the time was solely civic and economic—not political.
In a detailed statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on July 9, 2025, Obi attached an official letter documenting his appointment, alongside others, to a Presidential Taskforce on Port Decongestion, clarifying that the team’s creation was prompted by Nigeria’s pressing trade and logistics challenges at the time.
“As I stated during an interview over the weekend and have consistently maintained, I had never met General Sani Abacha before that encounter,” Obi wrote. “Our meeting with him was driven purely by our concern as traders and importers over the prolonged delays in clearing goods at the ports.”
Obi explained that the initiative to approach the Abacha regime came not from any political alignment, but from a collective effort by stakeholders in the business community, seeking practical solutions to the crippling inefficiencies at Nigeria’s seaports, which were stalling economic activity and threatening livelihoods.
“We approached the military leadership not as political actors, but as concerned citizens,” he added. “Our aim was to advocate for efficiency and propose steps toward restoring normalcy in port operations—for the benefit of the entire business community and the broader Nigerian economy.”
Obi, known for his long-standing emphasis on transparency and civic responsibility, said the public release of the appointment letter was made in keeping with his commitment to truth and accountability.
“I do not expect this copious evidence to silence mischief makers with ulterior motives,” he stated, “but I place it in the public domain for the sake of posterity and in line with my pledge to remain transparent to Nigerians.”
This clarification comes in response to renewed attempts by critics and online commentators to link Obi to the Abacha regime, a connection often wielded in political discourse to challenge his reformist image.
Obi concluded his statement by urging Nigerians to remain focused on truth, civic progress, and national interest over divisive narratives, emphasizing that integrity in public service must be defended with facts.
Credit: @PeterObi via x.com.
Credit: @PeterObi via x.com.
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