General Sani Abacha
Nigerians both home and diaspora most times remember Gen. Abacha as a dictator, Human Right Abuser, Looter and the killer of activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa of Ogoni people. A man known for ruling the country with an iron fist.
However, it would be a great disservice to remember him for just that, as he also did some other significant things in his time as the Heads-of-State of Nigeria and below are his contributions to Nigeria and Nigerians.
As Nigeria's Head-of-States, Sani Abacha never travelled outside Africa, perhaps to give effect to Nigeria’s Africa-centred foreign policy.⠀
Nigeria was also president of the United Nations Security Council making sure the obnoxious apartheid policy of the minority white regime in South Africa was dismantled.
Fuel Price: Under Gen. Abacha's rigeme fuel was N11 per litre in 1994.
Abacha successfully partook in 2 coups
In 1983, Abacha assisted Ibrahim Babangida in overthrowing Shehu Shagari, after just being elected to his second presidential term. Ten years later in 1993, Abacha overthrew the civilian interim government of Ernest Shonekan.
Bakassi Peninsula When Cameroon laid claim to the Bakassi Peninsula on March 29, 1994, Head-of-State General Sani Abacha quickly stationed troops of the Nigerian Army there and granted Bakassi a Local Government status, which became official on December 12, 1996. ⠀
Abacha rightly protected Bakassi as Nigerian territory until his death on June 8, 1998.⠀
However, four years after his death, the International Court of Justice ended Nigeria's sovereignty over Bakassi and transferred it to Cameroon on October 10, 2002.
Abacha made Nigerian Army respected
Abacha supported the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its military arm, ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), by sending troops to restore democracy in Liberia and Sierra Leone after a series of military coups in both countries.
Abacha created PTF, NLNG
Gen Abacha created the Petroleum Trust Fund and did significant capital and infrastructural projects across Nigeria, as well as the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas company (NLNG) with Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as its (PTF) first Chiarman. PTF achieved a lot of success in construction of roads, hospitals and schools across the country. Infact there are some roads in Nigeria that are still carrying the signboards of PTF across the nation
The economy grew in Abacha’s era
The Abacha administration became the first to record unprecedented economic achievements, going on to oversee an increase in the country’s foreign exchange reserves from $494 million in 1993 to $9.6 billion by the middle of 1997. It also reduced the external debt of Nigeria from $36 billion in 1993 to $27 billion by 1997.
Inflation rate was significantly reduced during Abacha’s time Abacha brought all the controversial privatization programs of the Babangida administration to halt, reduced an inflation rate of 54% inherited from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to 8.5% between 1993 and 1998, all while the nation’s primary commodity, oil was at an average of $15 per barrel.
His wife Hajiya Maryam Abacha, initiated what is now known as the National Hospital Abuja. It was originally named National Hospital for Women and Children Hospital before it was upgraded by subsequent Administration.
Gen. Sani Abacha was the person that first introduced GSM in Nigeria but couldn't consolidate on it full implementation as a result of his untimely death 1998.
The Completion of the National Assembly Complex. General regards Sani Abacha as coupist and a dictator but one thing they don't know is that he completed the building of the National Assembly Complex the legislative arm government is using.
He built the largest estate in West Africa known as Gwarunfa Housing Estate in Abuja.
Abacha never held a political appointment as a military man
Abacha refused to accept a single political appointment throughout his military career, Abacha has been described as the epitome of military discipline.
Abacha is a man of few words but many actions.
These are just some of his contributions to Nation Building, therefore, Abacha should be respected b and there's no doubt that he is one of the best PRESIDENTS Nigeria ever had.
Courtesy: historyville, and YNaij and Getty Images
Comments