Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has been trending across social media platforms following a clip of him that surfaced online that shows the moment he was released from prison in 1998.
The viral clip shows a skinny General Obasanjo and by extension it has got many people talking online most especially the youths of nowadays known as the “Gen-Z” era as they never see clip coming.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was released from prison on June 15, 1998, following the death of General Sani Abacha on June 8, 1998. Obasanjo had been imprisoned in 1995 after being convicted of an alleged coup plot against Abacha’s military regime. His release came under the transitional government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who later facilitated Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
Former president Obasanjo spent precisely three years, three weeks and three days in prison before he was released on June 16, 1998 by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who sent a Nigerian Airforce plane to Yola, to fly him home.
In the video, a visibly skinny Obasanjo spoke with journalists, expressing gratitude for his release.
“It’s nice to be back at home, everybody knows that. I’m grateful to them, they have always done me proud, this is not the first time, I hope this will not be the last time”, General Obasanjo told newsmen.
Olusegun Obasanjo became Nigeria’s civilian president on May 29, 1999, after winning the 1999 presidential election under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He was re-elected for a second term in 2003 and served until May 29, 2007. Before his civilian presidency, Obasanjo had previously ruled Nigeria as a military head of state from 1976 to 1979, making him the first Nigerian leader to serve both as a military ruler and a democratically elected president.
In September 2024, former president Olusegun Obasanjo who is 87-year-old trends online as he proves that age is just a number as he shows off his strong knees while dancing with newlyweds.
Watch the viral clip that resurfaced online below;
See reactions below;
Adesina Adewale : Did they arrest him with agbada then or they take the agbada to meet him in prison.
Fred Noah: Infact May abacha sleep well cos he knew that all these people are criminals who don’t mean well for the country. Abacha wanted to do like Jerry Rawlings but some foreign power went against it. And look at where we found ourselves now.
Bigman Bigemma: At the end of your release from prison. You became a president of the country called Nigeria. You never learnt a lesson. On how to turned things around. To fix Nigeria for good. But rather you destroyed the country the more. Look at where we are today. All because of you people’s failure and selfish interests.
Abdulrazak Kabir Abacha: the discipline master..Rest in peace sir,Nigerians needs you at this material time.
Ayodeji Oguntuase: No man truly know tomorrow, and for those who are using their position to suffer others that person may latter surpase you in your position and another good lession here for those who had falling it’s not your end even when men taught it’s over for you the Almighty God can lift you up again and we give glory to God for he is the only one who can determine our last fate not our enemy’s or our haters.
Babatunde Aderemi : We thought Abacha is wicked but see urself who is really wicked.