Labour Party presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has released a document detailing his involvement with the General Sani Abacha-led administration’s Taskforce on Port Decongestion, insisting that his role was purely civic and not political.
In a statement released to the public, Obi addressed longstanding speculations about his relationship with the late military ruler. He clarified that he had never met General Abacha prior to the Taskforce engagement and was co-opted into the committee alongside other stakeholders due to his status as a trader and importer concerned with the inefficiencies at Nigerian ports.
“As I stated during my interview at the weekend and have consistently maintained, I had never met General Sani Abacha before that encounter,” Obi said. “Our meeting was borne out of a collective concern as traders and importers over the prolonged delays in clearing goods at the ports.”
Obi emphasized that their appeal to the Abacha regime was not political but a practical initiative aimed at addressing economic disruptions. The shared letter, which officially documented his inclusion in the Taskforce, served to reinforce his claims.
He added, “Our intention was clear: to advocate for efficiency, and to propose practical steps towards restoring normalcy in port operations for the benefit of the wider business community and, ultimately, the Nigerian economy.”
Obi noted that while some detractors may continue to misrepresent the engagement, he remains committed to transparency and truth. “I don’t expect this copious evidence to bury this Abacha case because the mischief makers have ulterior motives,” he said. “But it’s being placed in the public space for posterity and in line with my transparency pledge to Nigerians.”
