Maryam Abacha, the widow of ex-military Chief of State General Sani Abacha, has dismissed longstanding accusations that her deceased spouse embezzled billions of dollars while in power, stating that there is insufficient proof to back these assertions.
In an interview with TVC on Sunday, Mrs. Abacha contested the prevailing narrative about her husband's legacy and cast doubt on the foundations of the allegations against him.
"Who can vouch for the money that was being hidden? Did you observe any signatures or signs of funds being stored overseas?" she questioned.
She additionally stated that the funds her spouse purportedly obtained for Nigeria vanished soon after his demise.
"And the funds my spouse had set aside for Nigeria disappeared within a few months. This is something people aren’t discussing," she stated.
Mrs. Abacha criticized the ongoing attention placed on her late spouse almost thirty years since his passing, casting doubt on the reasons for such intense examination.
Why are you holding someone accountable? Is this due to tribalism, a religious issue, or something else concerning Nigerians?" she questioned. "Why do we treat one another so poorly? Just because someone is from the north or south, or follows Islam or Christianity... This isn’t right.
She likewise took aim at the media, encouraging reporters to adopt a more positive and productive stance.
"People aren’t all terrible. Even after twenty-seven years, you’re still discussing Abacha. He must have been quite influential and well-loved by Nigerians. We should be grateful," she stated.
In response to remarks regarding Nigeria’s comparatively steady economy under her spouse's governance, which featured heightened foreign reserves and diminished external debt, Mrs. Abacha restated her stance that they engaged in no misconduct.
“Then, where exactly did he embezzle the funds? And where might he have taken them from?” she questioned. “Plus, since Nigerians are considered gullible, they tend to believe whatever they hear.”
She ended her speech by urging Nigerians to come together and show mutual respect, stating, "Babangida alone doesn't define Nigeria. Abacha alone doesn't define Nigeria. Neither do Abiola nor anyone else; no one person is powerful enough to represent the whole of Nigeria. Every individual matters, even the average citizen on the streets. After all, we are all humans. These troubles must cease."
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