“I Was Supposed to Die in Prison”—Obasanjo Reveals Shocking Plot Against Him, MKO Abiola, and Shehu Yar’Adua
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened up about a chilling chapter in Nigeria’s political history—his near-death experience during military imprisonment. Speaking at an event in Ogbor Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise, Imo State, the elder statesman shared how he narrowly escaped an alleged plan to have him, Chief MKO Abiola, and General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua eliminated while in detention.
Obasanjo credited his survival not to his strength or cunning, but to what he described as the “special grace of God.” His testimony sheds light on the dark era of Nigeria's military rule, one characterized by fear, oppression, and attempts to silence political opponents permanently.
The Alleged Plot: "We Were Never Meant to Leave Alive"
Obasanjo detailed a harrowing time when he, Abiola, and Yar’Adua were arrested under questionable circumstances. According to him, the intention of the regime that arrested them was clear: they were not to survive their imprisonment.
“When I was arrested, the man who arrested me, I thought he was making a mistake,” Obasanjo recalled.
“He had decided that some of us must be liquidated if he has to be in power permanently. There I was, but then, initially I was confused, I had not done anything wrong. Was it a mistake?”
At first, the former President admitted he was bewildered by the arrest, unsure of what wrongdoing he had committed. But soon, the reality of the situation dawned on him: this was no mistake. It was a calculated political move.
“When I realised that it wasn’t a mistake, I was full of prayers, including praying as Stephen prayed but amended my own prayer somewhat,” he said.
“I said whether they know what they are doing or they do not know what they are doing, God forgive them.”
“Only One of Us Walked Out Alive”: The Reality of the Plot
Obasanjo explained that the plot was so brazen that the man behind the arrests openly boasted about the fate of the three leaders.
“I resigned myself into the hands of God and the man who arrested us boasted that three of us will not come out of the detention or prison alive,” he revealed.
“That MKO Abiola will not come out alive, that Shehu Yar’Adua will not come out alive and that Olusegun Obasanjo will not come out alive.”
History, as we now know, validated these sinister threats. Both MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 Presidential Election, and General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, a respected military officer and politician, died in custody.
“Two of the three he had planned not to come out alive did not come out alive,” Obasanjo said soberly.
“I did come out alive not because of my power but the special grace of God.”
“God Has Been Partial to Me”: A Life Preserved by Grace
For Obasanjo, his survival is nothing short of divine intervention. The experience has shaped his outlook on life and solidified his belief in God’s providence.
“If anyone can claim to have experienced God’s amazing grace, I can,” he declared.
“God has been partial to me in how He has cared for me.”
This isn’t the first time Obasanjo has spoken about divine grace. But in this recent event, his message hit deeper—coming from someone who has experienced power, prison, war, and leadership, his survival stands as a symbol of resilience and fate.
A Flashback to 1959: The Hand of Grace in Every Season
As part of his address, Obasanjo also recalled a significant moment in his early military career, reflecting on how God’s grace has followed him even from his youth. He spoke about a course he took in Ghana in 1959 with eight other Nigerians.
“Of the group, only two of us are still alive,” he noted.
“I’m not mocking those who are gone—may their souls rest in peace—but this is just an example of how God’s grace has followed me. It’s not that we who are still alive are better than those who are not.”
This reflection served to further underscore his message—that life is not guaranteed by status, strength, or merit, but by divine mercy.
Honoring Longevity: Obasanjo Kneels Before 104-Year-Old Woman
In a moving gesture during the event, Obasanjo knelt before Madam Akagburuonye, the 104-year-old mother of philanthropist and Kingdom investor, Obioma Success Akagburuonye. He described the act as a way to tap into the blessing of long life.
For a man who has led Nigeria both as a military head of state and as a democratically elected president, this humble act drew applause and admiration from those present.
“I kneeled before her to tap into the grace of long life,” Obasanjo explained, reinforcing his theme of gratitude and reverence for life.
Final Thoughts
Obasanjo’s story is a sobering reminder of how fragile life can be, especially in a country with a turbulent political past. His survival, in the face of a clearly stated death plot, is a story worth documenting, sharing, and learning from. Whether one believes in fate, divine intervention, or historical coincidence, there is no denying that Olusegun Obasanjo’s life is a rare and enduring Nigerian story.
As the former president continues to speak out and share his journey, one thing remains certain: his voice will echo through Nigeria’s corridors of power and into the hearts of its people for generations to come.
