Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election has addressed long-standing claims about his association with the regime of late military ruler, General Sani Abacha.
Abacha’s rule, which lasted from November 1993 to June 1998, is widely remembered for its authoritarian tactics and allegations of large-scale corruption.
Over the years, some critics have suggested that Obi was a political appointee during that period, raising questions about his links to the regime’s legacy.
In a post shared via his official X handle on Wednesday, Obi responded to the claims, offering clarification on the nature of his interaction with the Abacha administration.
He explained that he was never a political appointee under the regime but had been involved in a private-sector-led initiative to tackle port congestion in Lagos.
To support his claim, Obi shared what appeared to be a copy of a letter appointing him and other key business figures to a presidential task force on port decongestion.
According to the former Anambra state governor, the effort was born out of concern from Nigerian traders and port users who sought government intervention in easing bottlenecks at the country’s ports.
He said, “Our meeting with General Abacha was part of an initiative driven by stakeholders in the trading and shipping sectors. We raised concerns about the growing congestion at the Apapa Port, which was harming commerce and economic activity.”
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Obi maintained that his involvement was strictly professional and aimed at resolving a pressing economic issue at the time, not as a political appointment or endorsement of the military regime.
“I was never a political appointee under Abacha. My interaction was based on the need for efficient port operations, which directly impacted the private sector,” he added.
Obi wrote on X: “In consonance with my established principles of defending everything I am involved in, and in the interest of all men and women of goodwill, especially those committed to the pursuit of truth, I hereby attach the letter which documents my co-opting, along with others, into the Taskforce on the decongestion of the Ports.
“As I stated during my interview at the weekend and consistently maintained in the past, I had never met General Sani Abacha before that encounter.
“Our meeting with him was borne out of collective concern as traders and importers over the prolonged delays in clearing goods at the ports.
“We approached him not as political actors, but as concerned citizens seeking pragmatic solutions to a matter affecting economic activity and livelihoods.”
