Shehu Sani: I was Senior To Obasanjo
By Elem Kash
President Olusegun Obasanjo turns 87 years oldSenator Shehu Sani has disclosed that he was senior to the former civilian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo while serving in prison.
Both men, accused of treasonable offences had been thrown into the Kiri Kiri Maximum Prison during the military junta of General Sani Abacha.
Sani who took to X to celebrate Obasanjo on the occasion of his 87th birthday said he was already in prison when the former military Head of State charged with plotting a coup arrived at Kiri Kiri.
“I was his senior in Kiri Kiri maximum security prison in 1995, when we were all charged for treason and sentenced to life imprisonment.”
He recalled that their sentences were “later reduced to 15 years by the Abacha military tribunal.”
Sani said Obasanjo never wavered while he was in incarceration, saying, “In Prison, he remained strong as an old soldier.”
“Obasanjo midwifed the Second Republic in 1979 where Shagari, Awo, Zik, Aminu Kano, Waziri Ibrahim & later Braithwaite strongly led that season”, Sani noted. “The great men all died & Obj is still alive.”
“With the exception of Jim Nwobodo & Awwal Ibrahim now an Emir”, Sani narrated, “All the Governors of the Second Republic have died, Obj is still alive.
Senator Shehu Sani felicitated with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of his 87th birthday celebration.“He was Nigeria’s President 17 years ago and he can still play soccer, dance and send missiles he calls letters. He survived the Civil war, survived the prison and survived the Presidency.”
Acknowledging Obasanjo’s survival instinct and the good health that nature has bestowed on him, the Senator who represented Kaduna State remarked, “He served as President for eight years without record of visiting any European country for medical reasons.”
He urged Nigerian medical scientists to provide their fellow countrymen with answers to “the secret behind the resilience, enduring spirit and longevity of Obj.”
Extolling the virtues of the legendary leader, the Senator concluded, “I know not of anyone who is detribalised and so passionate about Nigeria and the African continent than obj and some of his contemporaries.”