Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed chilling details about a deadly plot allegedly orchestrated by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, aimed at eliminating him, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, and General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. Speaking over the weekend at Ogbor Uvuru in Aboh Mbaise, Imo State, Obasanjo said he survived the plan only by the special grace of God.
Obasanjo was in the community to commission “The Noah’s Ark,” a newly built, state-of-the-art Assemblies of God Church donated by philanthropist and real estate magnate, Obioma Success Akagburuonye. Reflecting on his imprisonment under Abacha’s regime, Obasanjo disclosed that the former military ruler was determined to ensure that none of the three came out of prison alive in a bid to retain power indefinitely.
“When I was arrested, I initially thought it was a mistake,” Obasanjo said. “But it became clear he [Abacha] had decided that some of us must be eliminated to secure his hold on power. He boasted that MKO Abiola, Shehu Yar’Adua, and I would not come out alive. In the end, only I survived—and not by my strength, but by God’s grace.”
Obasanjo recalled praying intensely during his detention, amending the prayer of Stephen in the Bible to ask God for forgiveness for his captors, whether they understood their actions or not.
Emphasizing the divine favor he believes has guided his life, Obasanjo said, “If anyone can claim to have experienced God’s amazing grace, it’s me. I often say God has been partial in taking care of me.”
He also shared a personal anecdote from a course he attended in Ghana in 1959, noting that of the nine Nigerians who passed, only two are still alive today. “It’s not that we were better than the others. This is just an example of God’s grace.”
Obasanjo praised Engr. Akagburuonye for his Kingdom investment and faith, likening the grace upon his life to his own. He also paid homage to Akagburuonye’s 104-year-old mother, kneeling before her to “tap into the grace of long life.”
The dedication of “The Noah’s Ark” church, designed as a replica of the Biblical ark, took place on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The event drew a large crowd of worshippers, dignitaries, and tourists, including prominent religious leaders such as Rev. Dr. Sarah Seoh of Los Angeles, USA, and Rev. Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria, as well as traditional rulers and political leaders.
