Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 general election, has debunked claims suggesting he had political ties with former military ruler General Sani Abacha.
In a statement released by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem, on Wednesday, Obi clarified that his meeting with the late dictator was purely economic in nature, aimed at resolving port congestion that was severely affecting trade and commerce at the time.
“The meeting with General Abacha was not political in nature. I had never met General Sani Abacha prior to that encounter,” Obi said.
According to Obi, the meeting was convened by business stakeholders and traders, including himself, who were frustrated by the prolonged delays in clearing goods at Nigerian ports—a major hindrance to economic activity.
Appointed to Port Taskforce
To further back his claims, Obi shared a dated official letter of appointment to a taskforce on port decongestion, which was formed under Abacha’s administration.
“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.
This was a civic duty driven solely by a sense of responsibility and not political ambition,” Obi explained.
Social Media Speculations
The clarification follows renewed social media chatter linking Peter Obi to Abacha’s repressive regime. Critics suggested that the former Anambra State governor may have harbored political affiliations with the late military leader.
“I don’t expect this copious evidence to bury this Abacha case because the mischief makers have ulterior motives,” Obi stated.
“But it’s being placed in the public space for posterity and in line with my transparency pledge to Nigerians.”
General Sani Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his sudden death in 1998, is widely remembered for human rights violations and plundering billions of dollars from Nigeria’s treasury. Obi’s effort to clarify his past interactions with Abacha seeks to protect his image amid attempts to discredit him politically.
