Maryam Abacha, the widow of the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has denied long-standing allegations that her husband looted billions of dollars while in power.
In an interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday hosted by Femi Akande, Mrs. Abacha described the accusations against her late husband as unfair and rooted in misinformation.
“The annulment was not done by my husband. And if it was him, then that means he was more powerful than the President at the time. That means Abacha was the greatest. But I’m not here to talk about Babangida or anybody. All I know is that my husband didn’t do it,” she stated.
Addressing claims that Abacha embezzled public funds, she questioned the lack of direct evidence and challenged the narrative that billions were stolen and stashed abroad.
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or evidence of any money stashed abroad? And the money that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, it vanished. Why are you blaming somebody?” she asked.
Mrs. Abacha also called for unity and tolerance among Nigerians, decrying the influence of ethnic and religious bias in national discourse.
“Why are we so bad towards each other? Because someone is a Northerner or Southerner? A Muslim or a Christian? It’s not fair,” she said.
On the current security challenges facing Nigeria, the former First Lady expressed concern over the prolonged insurgency and questioned why Nigeria, despite its military strength, has struggled to defeat armed groups.
“I don’t know why insurgents have lingered this long. Other smaller nations have tackled theirs. We are bigger, richer, and more experienced,” she noted.
She emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the civilian government and the military in tackling insecurity.
“I believe in our military. I know they have what it takes to tackle the insurgents. If ECOMOG could bring peace to other countries, why can’t we have peace here? The government must work hand-in-hand with the military to solve this,” she urged.
Reflecting on her time as First Lady, Mrs. Abacha lamented the lack of policy continuity in Nigeria, urging the current administration to sustain impactful programs initiated by previous governments.
“Every government comes with its own programs. But if there is no continuity, there will be no progress,” she said, pointing to the Africa First Ladies Peace Mission as a legacy initiative that remains active.
Defending the reputation of past military governments, she maintained that military regimes had strength and structure, even if misunderstood.
“No government can fail. Military governance is different, they have the will and the power. Maybe the civilians are not that strong. But the solution lies in cooperation.”
She concluded with a call for patriotism, urging the media and citizens alike to focus on national unity and responsible journalism.
“Let’s pray for our country. Let’s be good to our leaders and say good things. The press should be truthful and help build the nation, not destroy people’s reputations,” she added.
