Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo has given details of how his outspoken nature landed him in prison during the General Sani Abacha regime in 1995.
Obasanjo said he was always commenting on issues of national and international interest and was thrown into jail by the military junta.
The former president made this revelation when some youths from the Future Africa Leaders Foundation visited him alongside the 10 winners of the Life Challenging Future Africa Leaders Awards.
Obasanjo also gave insight on joining the military and how he was able to adopt farming as a second career after his time in the Nigerian Army.
“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.
He further noted that it was his desire to make Nigeria a better place that forced him into contesting the 1999 presidential election.
Obasanjo said, “Going into Prison is really a challenge because I refuse 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 that some people felt the need to be saved and pressure started started coming,” he said.
Receive Alerts On:
Facebook: METRODAILYNG Twitter: @METRODAILYNG
REACH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME WITH METRO DAILY NIGERIA. ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO USERS ONLINE TODAY. KINDLY CONTACT US FOR YOUR ADVERTS OR PUBLICATIONS AT METRODAILYNG@GMAIL.COM or INFO@MERRODAILYNG.COM