Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed a harrowing tale of survival during his imprisonment under the late General Sani Abacha’s regime.
Speaking on the show “Untold Stories with Adesuwa,” Obasanjo recounted how he narrowly escaped being poisoned, a fate that befell his fellow detainee, the late Shehu Yar’Adua.
According to Obasanjo, a doctor was sent to the Jos prison where he was held captive. The doctor took him to a guest house in the GRA, armed with a poisoned needle, similar to the one used to poison Yar’Adua. The plan was to inject Obasanjo with the lethal substance under the guise of taking his blood, as they had heard he had high cholesterol.
However, Obasanjo, who is diabetic, insisted that he had been managing his condition in prison and had the necessary equipment to measure his blood sugar levels. He refused to let the doctor touch him, thereby saving his own life.
Undeterred, the doctor warned Obasanjo that another attempt would be made on his life once he reached his next destination. True to the doctor’s words, when Obasanjo arrived in Yola, he immediately informed the prison superintendent about his diabetic condition and requested to see a doctor.
The superintendent called upon a Yoruba doctor named Ajuwon, who happened to be well-acquainted with Obasanjo and his situation. Obasanjo shared his ordeal with Dr. Ajuwon, who assured him that he was managing his diabetes correctly. The doctor also instructed Obasanjo to notify the superintendent if anyone attempted to take his blood.
As predicted, the perpetrators made another attempt on Obasanjo’s life. However, this time, Dr. Ajuwon intervened.
He agreed to provide the blood they sought but made it clear that he would handle the procedure himself. Dr. Ajuwon took the blood and handed it over, but he insisted on receiving the results once Obasanjo reached Abuja.
To this day, Obasanjo and his sister have not received any news regarding the blood test results. The former president’s chilling account sheds light on the dangers he faced during his imprisonment and the lengths he had to go to in order to survive.
