Prison better than military cell — Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani stated that prison was a better experience for him compared to the military underground cell where he was initially detained in 1995.

Sani revealed this when he spoke at the public presentation of Senator Chris Anyanwu’s autobiography, Bold Leap, held at the National Universities Commission (NUC) auditorium in Abuja.

The human rights activist also revealed the harrowing experiences of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and late General Shehu Yar’Adua while they were in Kirikiri prison.

In March 1995, General Yar’Adua, alongside Obasanjo, Lawan Gwadabe, and others, was arrested on allegations of plotting a coup to overthrow the General Sani Abacha regime.

Sani and Senator Chris Anyanwu were among the pro-democracy activists and dissidents who were rounded up and jailed by the military junta.

Sani, who was also imprisoned alongside Obasanjo and Yar’Adua, said both leaders were subjected to humiliation and insults by junior soldiers.

“I remember a day we were sitting down with me, Obasanjo, and the late Yar’Adua. You would see a recruit telling you, ‘You better move back to your cell before I kill you.’

“And you can’t tell them you are a former head of state. You just have to move. So, the insult and the insolence we faced in that condition enriched our thoughts and strengthened us.”

He described the military underground cell as a place where one is completely cut off from the outside world.

“It is better for you to be in prison than a military underground cell, even though I thought prison was the worst place you should be.

“But when we went to that Parkland Military Underground Cell in Apapa, you will be begging to go back to prison and stay where you are committed. Yes, they will give you the best of food and the best place to stay.

“But in terms of communication with the outside world, if you are in the military cell, it is as if you are in a bottle. There is no way for you to manoeuvre your way and contact people outside. So, Chris Anyanwu has inspired a lot of women who were all there as convicts and awaiting trial.”

Sani also praised the courage and resilience of Anyanwu, saying, “I don’t know of any woman in Nigeria who has paid a price for freedom and democracy like Chris Anyanwu.

“We wore the same handcuffs with Chris Anyanwu. We were in the same Black Maria with Chris Anyanwu. We were also in a military underground cell with Chris Anyanwu.

“So I have seen what many have not seen. At a certain time, I had to warn her not to cause much trouble for us in prison because she was trying to fight with the prison warders and even tried to fight with the military who were keeping us in an underground cell,” he said.