By Maryam Abacha defends late husband, denies looting claims
Summary
- Maryam Abacha insists General Sani Abacha saved money for Nigeria, not looted it
- Demands evidence of alleged stolen funds and questions motives behind accusations
- Says Nigerians should “stop telling lies and blaming people” over past leadership
Lagos, Nigeria — Maryam Abacha, widow of Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has defended her husband’s legacy, insisting that he did not loot the country’s resources but instead “saved money for Nigeria.”
In a recent interview with TVC News, the former First Lady challenged decades-long claims that the late general stashed billions of dollars in foreign accounts during his regime, calling on critics to provide credible proof.
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed?” she asked. “Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?”
Mrs Abacha argued that funds her husband secured for the nation “vanished” within months after his death, suggesting misappropriation by others. In her words, “The monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that.”
Expressing frustration over what she sees as unfair blame, Maryam questioned whether tribal or religious biases were behind the persistent accusations. “Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she said.
She called on the media to play a more constructive role in national unity, saying “The press, you, the press, should try to educate the people. You are not here to bastardise people. People are not that bad.”
Responding to a remark about Nigeria’s relatively stable economy under her husband’s rule, with rising foreign reserves and lower debt, Mrs Abacha dismissed allegations of theft and challenged critics to explain how and where the money was supposedly stolen.
“So, where did he steal the money from? And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything,” she said bluntly.
She added that no single leader was solely responsible for Nigeria’s fate: “Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Abiola and everybody, nobody is big enough for Nigeria. Even the single man on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness sake. All these wahala should stop.”
Maryam Abacha concluded by thanking those who still speak of her husband nearly three decades later, saying, “27 years ago and you are still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that.”
