Obi Clears Air on Abacha Allegation Shares 1996 Appointment Letter

Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has addressed claims linking him to the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha.

The former Anambra State governor denied ever meeting the dictator and released a government document to clarify the nature of his past involvement in a federal task force.

Obi made his statement public on social media, where he posted a letter dated 1996. The document showed he was appointed to a Federal Government Task Force on Port Decongestion under the Abacha regime. This move comes in response to longstanding criticism accusing him of secretly working with or supporting the Abacha government.

Abacha’s rule, which spanned from 1993 to 1998, is widely remembered for human rights violations, political crackdowns, and the looting of national funds. Critics have often used this period to question Obi’s credibility, alleging he had links with the regime.

Obi insisted his role at the time was not political, but civic. According to him, the task force was formed to address growing inefficiencies at Nigerian ports, which were affecting trade and economic activity. He said he participated alongside others to help fix the bottlenecks that had crippled port operations and slowed down business activities in the country.

He clarified that his contribution was strictly focused on finding solutions to economic problems, and that his involvement had nothing to do with political alignment or support for the military regime. He maintained that he never met Abacha in person, either before or during the task force engagement.

Obi also expressed doubt that presenting the appointment letter would stop his critics, whom he accused of pushing false claims for personal or political gain. However, he said it was important to put the facts in the public domain for the sake of history and to stay true to his commitment to transparency.

He described the move as part of his wider effort to remain accountable to Nigerians and to explain every role he has played in national affairs. He urged the public to focus on facts rather than political propaganda, stressing that the task force role was a duty rooted in civic responsibility, not a political alliance.

With this response, Obi hopes to put to rest years of speculation about his alleged ties to one of Nigeria’s most controversial regimes, while reinforcing his image as a leader focused on accountability and service.