Maryam Abacha, widow of former military Head of State General Sani Abacha, has strongly defended her husband’s reputation, rejecting longstanding allegations that he embezzled billions of dollars while in power.
She criticised Nigerians for accepting such claims without evidence, saying they are too quick to believe anything they hear.
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In a recent interview with TVC, Mrs. Abacha demanded proof to support the accusations of looting. She questioned the absence of verifiable documentation or witnesses linking her husband to foreign bank accounts allegedly containing stolen public funds.
She also claimed that money her husband reportedly kept for the country’s benefit disappeared shortly after his death. According to her, these funds vanished under the control of subsequent administrations, but the public continues to focus on Abacha instead of asking what happened after he died.
Mrs. Abacha expressed frustration over what she sees as a targeted campaign against her husband. She questioned whether tribal, religious, or personal biases were behind the continued criticism of Abacha, and argued that Nigerians tend to unfairly turn on one another based on region or belief.
She criticised the Nigerian media for contributing to what she described as misinformation, urging journalists to focus on public enlightenment rather than character attacks. She pointed out that decades after her husband’s death, his name still dominates public discourse, which she interpreted as a sign of his lingering influence and popularity.
Addressing the state of the economy during her husband’s rule, which some have described as stable and marked by growth in foreign reserves and reduced external debt, she again denied any wrongdoing. She maintained that there was no logical explanation for how her husband could have stolen such vast sums.
She concluded by urging Nigerians to embrace unity and mutual respect. In her view, no single individual including past leaders like Abacha, Babangida, or Abiola holds exclusive power over Nigeria. She stressed that every Nigerian, regardless of status, matters and deserves consideration, adding that the constant blame game must come to an end.
General Sani Abacha ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his sudden death in 1998. His regime has been widely associated with corruption, and successive governments, both within and outside Nigeria, have confirmed the recovery of large sums allegedly looted during his administration.
