“How I Prevented Kirikiri Inmates From Attacking Obasanjo”: Shehu Sani Spills

“How I Prevented Kirikiri Inmates From Attacking Obasanjo”: Shehu Sani Spills

  • Former Kaduna Senator Shehu Sani has made a revelation about his early days when he was an activist, fighting for democracy and locked behind bars
  • Sani narrated how he saved former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the wrath of prison inmates at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in 1995
  • He also disclosed how Ken Saro-Wiwa was brought into Port-Harcourt prison and hanged, saying “I could see them from the window”

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

FCT, Abuja - A former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has narrated how he shielded ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from being assaulted by inmates of the Kirikiri Maximum Security prison in 1995.

Shehu Sani opens up on life in Kirikiri prison with Obaanjo
Shehu Sani and ex-President Obasanjo. Photo credit: @ShehuSani
Source: Twitter

Shehu Sani, Obasanjo and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua were moved to prison

He spoke during a lecture in Abuja on Thursday, June 27.

Read also

Shehu Sani issues strong warning to Northern leaders “rallying Buhari in plot” to sack Tinubu

As reported by Daily Trust, Sani was among the pro-democracy activists and dissidents who were rounded up and jailed by the military junta led by Sani Abacha, who was president from 1993 to 1998.

Obasanjo, who was Nigeria’s Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and returned as civilian president in 1999–2007, was arrested in 1995 for allegedly plotting a coup and jailed.

While recounting events from the era, Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, said he, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Obasanjo were moved to Kirikiri prison after their arrests.

"They insulted Obasanjo"

According to him, armed robbers in prison began shouting and insulting the former president when they saw him, Daily Trust reported.

Sani added that he “talked to the inmates to calm down, that no matter their grievances with Obasanjo, he was now an inmate”.

Read also

Obi Cubana weighs in on VDM and Iyabo Ojo drama, peeps react: “This is where his downfall starts”

“In 1995, a team of soldiers, policemen and DSS visited my house in Kaduna. It was a journey that began and lasted for four years.
“We were then allocated our cells. When the armed robbers there saw Obasanjo, they started shouting and insulting him. Naturally, for those of us who were human rights activists, we were popular with inmates. I told him, ‘You are a commander outside, but this is where I command’. I then talked to the inmates to calm down, that no matter their grievances with Obasanjo, he was now an inmate,” Sani recounted.

Shehu Sani warns Northern leaders plotting to unseat Tinubu

Legit.ng reported earlier that Shehu Sani warned Northern politicians to abandon plans to evict President Bola Tinubu from office in the 2027 Presidential elections.

Sani, in an interview with Arise TV, said the move to unseat Tinubu in the next election will negatively affect the unity of Nigeria.

Read also

Tinubu discriminating against northern Nigeria? Shettima speaks out

According to the activist, no serious Southerner attempted to remove Buhari from power during his eight-year tenure. Hence, Tinubu should not be challenged in 2027.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Esther Odili avatar

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institue of Journalism (NIJ), where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. In 2024, Esther obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.