July 9, 2025 – Abuja — Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has publicly addressed renewed allegations linking him to the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha, stating that his involvement in a 1996 federal task force was based solely on civic duty and economic concern—not political alignment.
In a detailed post titled “Our Engagement with General Abacha: Setting the Record Straight” shared on his official X account on Wednesday, Obi released a government document dated April 24, 1996, confirming his appointment to the Lagos Port Decongestion Committee. The letter, signed by then Minister of State for Finance Alhaji Abu Gidado, named Obi as one of several appointees deployed to address inefficiencies at the Apapa Port.
“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,” Obi wrote. “Our meeting with him was borne out of collective concern as traders and importers over the prolonged delays in clearing goods at the ports.”
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and businessman, emphasized that the initiative was a non-political effort by private sector stakeholders seeking to revive critical infrastructure and trade operations.
“We approached him not as political actors, but as concerned citizens seeking pragmatic solutions to a matter affecting economic activity and livelihoods,” he said.
“Our intention was clear: to advocate for efficiency and to propose practical steps towards restoring normalcy in port operations for the benefit of the wider business community and, ultimately, the Nigerian economy.”
The clarification comes amid intensified efforts by some political opponents—particularly from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—to tie Obi to Abacha’s authoritarian legacy, a narrative many of his supporters have dismissed as a smear campaign.
Reaffirming his commitment to transparency, Obi said the release of the 1996 letter was not to silence critics but to provide context and clarity.
“I don’t expect this copious evidence to bury this Abacha case because the mischief makers have ulterior motives, but it’s being placed in the public space for posterity and in line with my transparency pledge to Nigerians,” he noted.
The statement has sparked a wave of support online, especially among Obi’s base. Morris Monye, Director of Mobilization for the Obidient Movement, responded:
“There’s always evidence for everything. Will they stop their mischief? No.”
Another user, @ChrisEjiofor7, posted:
“APC and their minions are up against one man. Trying to find faults in his past leadership, but found none—hence the propaganda.”
Obi’s response continues his pattern of publicly confronting allegations with documentary evidence and measured commentary—a communication style that has solidified his image as one of Nigeria’s most disciplined and transparent political figures.
With the 2027 elections on the horizon and economic discontent deepening under President Tinubu’s administration, Obi remains a key opposition figure, particularly among younger and reform-minded Nigerians.
