According to Daily Post, Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, revealed on Friday that his outspoken stance on both national and global issues led to his imprisonment in 1995 under the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha.
He explained that his desire to prevent Nigeria from deteriorating was the driving force behind his decision to run for president in 1999.
Before entering politics, Obasanjo had shifted his focus to agriculture at the age of 42 after concluding his military career.
During an interactive session at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) with 15 young individuals selected from across the continent, Obasanjo encouraged the youth to step into leadership roles that would positively impact Africa’s future.
In a statement from his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo shared these insights with the participants, who were part of the Future Africa Leaders Foundation, including the 10 recipients of the Future Africa Leaders Awards.
Reflecting on his past, Obasanjo described his time in prison as one of life's challenges, noting that his inability to remain silent was a key factor in the events that led to his incarceration.
"After finishing my military career at 42, I was still youthful, energetic, and eager. I turned to agriculture, but that journey also led me to prison, a place I never desired to be," he said.
“Going into Prison is really a challenge because I refuse to keep quiet. In my view, whenever there was something to address, I spoke out about it, which ultimately led to my imprisonment—something I considered a challenge. When I was released, the country’s situation had worsened to the point where some people felt a need for salvation, and the pressure began to mount.”
Obasanjo also addressed a question about Africa's debts, expressing concern that some of the debts incurred by countries on the continent were the result of recklessness and outright corruption.
He stated, "Many of these debts cannot be justified. Some are purely a result of corruption," and referenced a specific case in Nigeria where a loan was fully repaid for a carpet industry project, despite the site never being cleared.