I Wasn’t Abacha’s Ally — Obi

 Obi Fires Back: I Worked With Abacha Regime as a Trader, Not a Politician

Presidential hopeful Peter Obi has publicly dispelled claims of political ties with late military dictator General Sani Abacha, releasing a 1996 letter from the Federal Ministry of Finance to set the record straight. The document, dated April 24, 1996, confirms Obi’s appointment to a federal task force aimed at decongesting Nigerian ports—an economic initiative, not a political alliance.

In a detailed statement shared on his X handle, the Labour Party’s 2023 flagbearer explained that his engagement with the Abacha government stemmed from his role as a concerned trader and importer seeking solutions to the country’s port crisis. He was appointed alongside prominent Nigerians including Chief Mike Okonkwo and Prince Tony Anenih, and tasked with collaborating with port authorities and stakeholders to ease congestion and improve efficiency.

Obi dismissed the revived controversy as the work of “mischief makers with ulterior motives,” insisting the release of the letter was a gesture of transparency, not a bid to rewrite history. “I don’t expect this copious evidence to bury this Abacha case,” he wrote, “but it’s being placed in the public space for posterity.”

The post has since triggered a wave of reactions across social media, with supporters applauding Obi’s openness while critics remain divided.