Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recounted how he narrowly escaped a death plot allegedly orchestrated by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, during Nigeria’s turbulent military era.
Speaking at the dedication of a striking new church building in Imo State over the weekend, Obasanjo said Abacha had vowed that he, business mogul MKO Abiola, and General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua would never make it out of prison alive.
“When I was arrested, the man who arrested me, I thought he was making a mistake. He had decided that some of us must be liquidated if he has to be in power permanently. There I was, but then, initially I was confused, I had not done anything wrong. Was it a mistake?
“When I realised that it wasn’t a mistake, I was full of prayers, including praying as Stephen prayed but amended my own prayer somewhat.
“I said whether they know what they are doing or they do not know what they are doing, God forgive them,” Obasanjo said.
He continued, “I resigned myself into the hands of God and the man who arrested us boasted that three of us will not come out of the detention or prison alive, that MKO Abiola will not come out alive, that Shehu Yar’Adua will not come out alive and that Olusegun Obasanjo will not come out alive.
“Two of the three he had planned not to come out alive did not come out alive. I did come out alive not because of my power but the special grace of God.”
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Obasanjo made the remarks at Ogbor Uvuru in Aboh Mbaise, where he commissioned the Assemblies of God Church named The Noah’s Ark.
The imposing structure was built by real estate investor and philanthropist, Engr. Obioma Success Akagburuonye.
Reflecting on the many moments he’s escaped death, Obasanjo said, “If anybody can claim to enjoy the amazing grace of God, I can. I said God has been partial to me in taking care of me.”
He recalled attending a course in Ghana in 1959 where only two of nine Nigerians who passed are still alive today.
“I am not mocking those who are not alive, may their souls rest in peace, but I’m giving you examples of grace of God in my life because those of them that are not alive, it is not that two of us are better than them. In a situation like that, what do I have to give God except to continue to appreciate His grace.”
Obasanjo also praised Akagburuonye’s devotion and likened his spiritual journey to his own. He paid homage to the 104-year-old mother of the philanthropist, kneeling before her to “tap the grace of long life.”
Akagburuonye, explaining the vision behind the church, said it was inspired by the biblical Noah’s Ark. “The Noah’s Ark Church is a symbol of faith, obedience and salvation,” he said.