How not keeping quiet landed me in jail — Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has disclosed that his attitude of not keeping quiet on national and international issues led him to jail under the military junta of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, in 1995.

Obasanjo also stated that the quest to save Nigeria from an imminent disintegration made him seek the Presidency in 1999, noting that he had settled into agriculture after his military service at age 42 before the quest came.

Speaking during an interactive session with 15 young male and female future African leaders drawn from different parts of the continent at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Obasanjo tasked the youth on positive leadership roles for the continent.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President spoke when the budding youth, under the aegis of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, came with the 10 winners of the Prestigious and Life-Challenging Future Africa Leaders Awards.

He said his prison experience was part of the challenges of life he personally had, and the journey to it started with his inability to keep mute.

READ ALSO:How I used Obasanjo to impeach Fayose – Babafemi Ojudu

He said: “I joined the Army, and at the age of 42, I finished my career as a military officer, but what could I do? I was still young, energetic, and dynamic, but I was still young. So, I took to agriculture, and during that time, I went into prison, and that is not what I really wanted.

“Going into prison is really a challenge because I refused to keep quiet. For me, if there is anything to comment on, I did comment on them, and so, I landed in prison, and that is a challenge. And when I came out from prison, the situation was bad in the country, and some people felt the need to be saved, and pressure started coming.”

Obasanjo responded to the issue on African debts, lamenting that some of the debts by some countries on the continent were reckless and outright corruption.

“Most of the debts cannot be explained. Some are outright corruption,” he disclosed, citing a particular state in Nigeria where the site for a carpet industry was never cleared, yet the entire loan was repaid.

He commended the participants and organizers, particularly the founder of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for hosting the 2024 edition of the programme.

He said, “What Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has been doing since 2013 is marvelous, and as I said, some people will say it is just a drop in the ocean, but many drops in the ocean make the ocean. I am very pleased and satisfied with him on this project and will continue to wish him all the best.

“I also want to urge the beneficiaries to carry on the torch and spread it. Because, as the carriers, they have the opportunity to spread the message to other parts of the world by inspiring, enriching, and providing for others. So, go and be African leaders of tomorrow; you have even said it is leaders of today and not tomorrow. It is no longer tomorrow but today with positive disruptive action.”

The Star Prize winner of the 2024 edition, Julian New Ariori from the Republic of Benin, on behalf of her co-winners, thanked the former President for playing host to the team, hinting that the tour of the Presidential Library opened a new vista to orientation and exposure for the visiting team.

Others included participants from Libya, Morocco, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, South Sudan, Malawi, Egypt, and Cameroon.

Also present were delegates from Togo, Ghana, Lesotho, Rwanda, and Burkina Faso, with the Head of Media and Government Relations of the Foundation, Pastor Sylvester Ebhodaghe, as the chaperone of the visiting team.