Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has thanked former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon for writing a personal letter to late General Sani Abacha to appeal for his release from prison.
Describing General Gowon as his Boss, Obasanjo said:
“I have to thank you my Boss. Yesterday you gave us revelation, when I came out of prison, I had opportunities to go round the world thanking friends that appealed and prayed for my release from prison.
“I did that based on what I heard when I was in prison and when I came out friends who contributed to appeal and pray for my release.
“I did not know that you wrote a personal letter for my release until you said it yesterday. I thank you for that”, he said.
General Gowon had revealed how he pleaded with late General Sani Abacha not to execute former President Olusegun Obasanjo for an alleged coup plot in 1995.
Gowon who said this at the maiden edition of the Interdenominational Unity Christian Carol and Praise Festival organized by Plateau Government where he and Obasanjo were special guest of honour respectively.
He had said:
“I wrote a letter to Abacha, I pleaded with him that God made him a leader to do good and not evil, I sent my wife with the letter in the middle of the night to Abacha in Abuja, I pleaded with him that such a thing should not happen.
“I’m glad that soon after that things changed, and not only that Obasanjo left prison, he became our President in 1999.
“This is something that only prayers and sincerity can do, I’m happy that today myself and Obasanjo are here to celebrate the unity of Plateau”, he said.
Lamenting that the State has gone through myriad of insecurity challenges, Gowon said the Carol provided a suitable avenue for the people to commune, thanking the state government the event and indeed, various other initiatives aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence among the people.
Addressing the congregation, the State Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the festival as a significant steps towards the unity and prophetic destiny of Plateau State.
The event featured scriptural readings by notable personalities including Former Minister of Information and Communications Professor Jerry Gana, former Plateau State Governors Joshua Dariye, and Senator Jonah David Jang, Deputy Governor, Hon. Josephine Piyo, and Senator Istifanus Dung Gyang.
The inspiring program included soul-lifting songs, cultural performances, and profound message of hope and reconciliation.
-9News Nigeria.
