Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has released an official appointment letter from 1996 to address the increasing allegations that he served under the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most repressive leaders.
TheNewsGuru reports that the military leader, Abacha ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. His regime was notorious for widespread human rights violations, suppression of dissent, and large-scale looting of public funds.
However, controversy started after some critics accused the former Anambra governor of secretly collaborating with the Abacha regime, of which he denied.
In a new development, Obi on Wednesday shared a document appointing him to a Federal Government Task Force on Ports Decongestion, clarifying that his role was purely economic and civic, not political.
Dated April 24, 1996, the letter was issued on the official letterhead of the Federal Ministry of Finance, signed by then Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Abu Gidado.
It was addressed to the Secretary of the Lagos Commerce Association, and formally appointed several individuals—including Obi—as members and coordinators in the national task force created to resolve port congestion issues.
Obi was appointed to serve at the Apapa Port alongside Edwin Okeke. Others listed in the letter include:
Mr. Okey Ezibe – Coordinator for all ports
Chief Chike Chigbue – Assistant Coordinator and liaison with the police at FIIB Alagbon
Joe Best Okoye and Prince Tony Akanegbu – Tin Can Island Port
Patrick Chibueze and Chief Okey Okereke – Murtala Mohammed Airport
The letter also instructed relevant security and customs agencies to cooperate fully with the appointees to ensure smooth port operations.
“You are hereby appointed as co-opted coordinators and co-opted members of the Ports Decongestion Committees in Lagos… You are urged to cooperate with the Team Leaders of the various Committees of the Ports,” the letter read in part.