Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his outspoken nature on national and international issues led to his imprisonment under the military regime of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, in 1995.
Obasanjo also shared that his decision to seek the presidency in 1999 was driven by the need to save Nigeria from disintegration.
He admitted that he had embraced farming after retiring from military service at the age of 42 in 1979.
It is worth recalling that the former president served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1976 to 1979.
In a statement released on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo disclosed this while hosting youths under the aegis of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation.
The youth delegation included 10 winners of the prestigious and impactful Future Africa Leaders Awards.
Obasanjo described his imprisonment as one of the life challenges he faced, attributing it to his refusal to remain silent on pressing issues.
He said, “I joined the army and retired at 42, but I was still young, energetic, and dynamic. So, I took up agriculture. During that time, I was imprisoned, something I didn’t want.
“Going to prison is a challenge, but I ended up there because I refused to keep quiet. For me, if there was something to comment on, I spoke out, and that landed me in prison.
“When I came out, the situation in the country was so dire that some people felt it needed saving, and pressure mounted on me to intervene.”
Addressing Africa’s rising debt burden, Obasanjo criticised the recklessness and corruption behind many debts. He shared an example of a Nigerian state where a loan was taken for a carpet industry that never materialised, yet the debt was repaid.
He praised Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the founder of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, for his consistent efforts since 2013 in empowering African youths.
“What Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has been doing is marvellous,” he said. “Some may see it as a drop in the ocean, but many drops make the ocean.
I am very pleased with this project and wish him continued success.”
Obasanjo encouraged the award winners to embrace their roles as leaders, saying, “Carry the torch and spread it. You are the leaders of today, not tomorrow. Take positive, disruptive action to make a difference.”
The Star Prize winner of the 2024 edition, Julian New Ariori from the Republic of Benin, thanked Obasanjo on behalf of her fellow winners. She noted that the tour of the Presidential Library offered valuable insight and exposure to the visiting team.
Participants also came from Libya, Morocco, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, South Sudan, Malawi, Egypt, Cameroon, Togo, Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda, and Burkina Faso, with Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe, Head of Media and Government Relations for the Foundation, serving as the group’s chaperone.
