Maryam Abacha, widow of Nigeria’s late military Head of State General Sani Abacha, has firmly denied long-standing accusations that her husband looted billions of dollars from the country’s treasury during his tenure, describing the allegations as unfounded, politically motivated, and lacking any credible evidence.
In a recent interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday with journalist Femi Akande, Mrs. Abacha passionately defended her late husband’s legacy, stating that the widespread belief in his involvement in massive financial corruption was fueled by misinformation and historical revisionism aimed at tarnishing his name.
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or evidence of any money stashed abroad?” she asked. “And the money that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, it vanished. Why are you blaming somebody?” she continued, suggesting that funds allegedly recovered or repatriated were being misrepresented in public discourse.
Abacha was not behind June 12 annulment
On the controversial annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by MKO Abiola, Mrs. Abacha distanced her husband from the decision. She emphasized that General Abacha was not responsible for the annulment and pushed back against efforts to associate him with it.
“The annulment was not done by my husband,” she said. “And if it was him, then that means he was more powerful than the President at the time. That means Abacha was the greatest. But I’m not here to talk about Babangida or anybody. All I know is that my husband didn’t do it.”
Maryam Abacha on military rule
Maryam Abacha also expressed her preference for military regimes, noting that they are more structured and decisive compared to civilian administrations. She argued that military governments often get things done more efficiently due to their discipline and command structure.
“No government can fail. Military governance is different, they have the will and the power. Maybe the civilians are not that strong. But the solution lies in cooperation,” she said, adding that civilian leaders could learn from the focused leadership seen during military eras.
Addressing insecurity and Nigeria’s military strength
Turning to the issue of national security, Mrs. Abacha voiced concern over the prolonged challenges posed by insurgency, banditry, and terrorism in Nigeria. She questioned why the country, despite its resources and military experience, has been unable to decisively defeat groups like Boko Haram.
“I don’t know why insurgents have lingered this long. Other smaller nations have tackled theirs. We are bigger, richer, and more experienced,” she stated, expressing disappointment that the Nigerian military has not achieved similar results at home as it has abroad.
She praised the competence of Nigerian troops in foreign peacekeeping missions, such as those under ECOMOG, and urged the government to leverage that strength for domestic peace.
“I believe in our military. I know they have what it takes to tackle the insurgents. If ECOMOG could bring peace to other countries, why can’t we have peace here?” she queried, calling for better collaboration between the federal government and the armed forces.
Calls for unity, tolerance and truthful journalism
Mrs. Abacha concluded her interview with a call for greater unity and national healing. She appealed to Nigerians to look beyond tribal, ethnic, and religious differences and foster a spirit of togetherness and patriotism.
“Why are we so bad towards each other? Because someone is a Northerner or Southerner? A Muslim or a Christian? It’s not fair,” she said, urging all citizens to rise above divisive sentiments and treat one another with respect and humanity.
She also urged the media to adopt responsible journalism practices, emphasizing the importance of truth, fairness, and nation-building in their reporting.
“Let’s pray for our country. Let’s be good to our leaders and say good things. The press should be truthful and help build the nation, not destroy people’s reputations,” she concluded, stressing that patriotism and truth should guide public discourse in Nigeria.