Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recounted how he narrowly escaped a deadly plot by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who allegedly vowed that he, alongside Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, would never leave prison alive.
Obasanjo made the revelation over the weekend in Ogbor Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise, Imo State, during the dedication of a state-of-the-art Assemblies of God Church, “The Noah’s Ark,” built and donated by philanthropist and Kingdom investor, Obioma Success Akagburuonye.
Speaking during the event, Obasanjo described his survival as a miracle and a testament to God’s extraordinary grace.
“When I was arrested, I initially thought it was a mistake. But soon, I realized it wasn’t. Abacha had made up his mind that if he was going to remain in power perpetually, some of us had to be eliminated,” Obasanjo said.
He continued: “The man who arrested me boasted that three of us — MKO Abiola, Shehu Yar’Adua, and Olusegun Obasanjo — would not come out of prison alive. Two of them didn’t make it. I survived, not by my strength, but by the special grace of God.”
Obasanjo reflected on his experience in prison, sharing that he turned to prayer in his darkest hours.
“I prayed like Stephen in the Bible, but I adjusted the prayer a little. I said, ‘Lord, whether they know what they are doing or not, forgive them.’ I resigned myself into God’s hands,” he said.
Describing himself as a living example of God’s mercy, Obasanjo said, “If anyone can testify to the amazing grace of God, it is me. God has been especially kind to me.”
He recalled attending a course in Ghana in 1959, where nine Nigerians participated. Of that number, only two are still alive.
“It’s not that we were better than those who passed on. I’m simply acknowledging the grace of God in my life. What else can I do but continue to appreciate Him?” he added.
Obasanjo praised the church’s builder, Chief Akagburuonye, calling him a man also marked by God’s grace. He likened Akagburuonye’s generosity and devotion to Kingdom work to his own testimony of divine favor.
He also paid homage to Akagburuonye’s 104-year-old mother, kneeling before her in admiration and gratitude, saying he hoped to tap into the grace of her long life.
The church, designed as a replica of the Biblical Noah’s Ark in both form and symbolism, was officially dedicated on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The event drew a large crowd of worshippers, tourists, and dignitaries, including Rev. Dr. Sarah Seoh from Los Angeles, USA; Rev. Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church Nigeria; traditional rulers; industry leaders; and political figures.
