Obi Clarifies Engagement With General Abacha Over Port Congestion

The former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has clarified the circumstances surrounding his engagement with the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, during Nigeria’s military era.

In a statement titled “Our Engagement with General Abacha: Setting the Record Straight”, Obi shared a copy of the official letter that documented his co-option—alongside other traders and importers—into the Taskforce on Port Decongestion. He said the clarification was necessary “in the interest of all men and women of goodwill, especially those committed to the pursuit of truth.”

According to Obi, the meeting with General Abacha was not political in nature. “I had never met General Sani Abacha prior to that encounter. Our meeting with him was borne out of collective concern as traders and importers over the prolonged delays in clearing goods at the ports,” he explained. “We approached him not as political actors, but as concerned citizens seeking pragmatic solutions to a matter affecting economic activity and livelihoods.”

Obi emphasised that the objective was to advocate for efficiency and to propose practical steps to restore order and productivity at the nation’s ports. “Our actions were driven solely by a sense of civic duty and not political ambition,” he affirmed. “This clarification is offered in the interest of truth.”