It was on a morning of June 8, 1998. I had hurried off to school which was situated in a military barracks, only to meet a strange sight...A sight of chaos and disorganization, like the biblical 'sheep without a shepherd' story. It was very unusual. From the little I gathered, I heard "ABACHA DON DIE".

Born in 1943, a kanuri from borno state. Abacha was commissioned as an officer in 1963. Abacha had a successful military career at a young age, and was said in some quarters to be the most successful coup plotter in nigeria, participating in all the coups the country experienced. He possibly was a foot soldier in the January 66' coup.

A chief of army staff, and later minister of defence under the Babangida regime, Abacha was the first nigerian officer to attain the rank of a general without skipping a single rank. The stage was set for Abacha to reach the very top, and he finally seized power from the interim government in 17th November 1993.

General abacha ran a despotic and sadistic government in which human rights were basically non existent. He placed himself above the jurisdiction of the court and could detain whosoever challenged his government. His government perpetuated the worst human rights abuse in nigerian history where people either went on exile or were assassinated. Kudirat abiola, alfred rewane amongst others were gunned down.The worst was when Ogoni playwright ken saro wiwa who fought for the rights of ogoniland was arrested alongside 8 others. Despite international pressure, they were hanged and had their bodies DISSOLVED IN ACID.

The sani abacha regime had some successes of note. The regime robustly supported ECOWAS by supplying Nigerian soldiers for ECOMOG duties to help restore democracy in Liberia and Sierra leone. Nigeria's foreign reserve greatly increase, and a drop in our debt profile amongst others.

In 1998, Abacha planned on transiting to democratic governance...with all the five political parties endorsing him as their candidate. In June 8th 1998, General abacha suddenly died of cardiac arrest at the Aso rock villa and was buried same day according to Islamic rites. Some parts of nigeria celebrated his demise, and saw it as a huge relief.

General abacha's regime was one fraught with corruption in which Nigeria was looted dry. His economic prudence was diverting monies to personal accounts. Nigeria has spent over a decade trying to gather and recover these funds known as THE ABACHA LOOT. Aside having a military career, abacha was not known to have any business as at the time of death. But today the abacha's have a university in Niger republic and other huge properties and untold wealth. General abacha had 7 sons and 3 daughters. He was posthumously awarded by the GEJ government in 2014 during Nigeria's centenary celebration.


lalasticlala. abacha loved snakes too.

Why remember a dictator

The RayBan wearing head of state. I remember that year, this man was so feared that people whispered when they discuss him for fear of being arrested or killed. His national broadcast was always like watching scary movie. We all celebrated when he died but I later realized that his death has not been a lesson for us in this country.

SirJeffry:
Why remember a dictator

We can't erase history sir, no matter how ugly. The best we can do is learn about, and from it.

my mentor and hero.....rest in peace sir.......am in my house come and beat me

God is great.

He employed Prof. Aluko, one of the best of Nigerian Economists and messed him up. He employed Ojukwu to destabilise Obasanjo. He was a maximum dictator, a messup and an abomination. May his ways perish forever IJN AMEN!!!

Elmojiid:
my mentor and hero.....rest in peace sir.......am in my house come and beat me

your mentor? okay

He died a saint according to that phool called prrsedent vegetable

This is the same man whose remembrance pictures are pasted on buses in the North, he is still celebrated there despite his horrible legacy. Nigeria has a looong way to go.

Just reading below that he was the one who murdered the Ogoni 8 and several other assassinations. Well, death eventually came for him too. Evil beast.

Abacha Stove remains in our memory.

I know some people won't know that stove, there was a time in 9ja that you have to buy saw dust.

..

I miss Maryam Abacha
Naija's finest lady....almost as fine as Bianca Ojukwu

The only first lady with firm, standing boobs.

The tyrant

Plz, what's there to remember??

I was writing junior WAEC in Abuja. Some friends who had cable TV then said they watched the news on CNN. Come and see happiness everywhere. Everybody was happy no matter their ethnic group.

Remembering the late dicktator

And what was he remembered for

Nothing to remember except for his evils

It was a time of darkness in Nigeria...and that includes literally, NEPA no gree give us light.

Another thing I remembered was Assassination, people dey die like chicken...he even ordered the killing of Pa Rewane, a 79yrs old nationalist, who's already going to his grave...Abacha quickened his steps.

I won't even be surprised if he's responsible for Fela's death, since Baba 70 they do his ting, he no get HIV, Abacha put am for prison, Fela came back with HIV virus, maybe na injection.

..Wicked tyrant killed with an apple.
nothing to remember about you. all our money wey dey Switzerland we want it back. June 12 on my mind topless march..

The only thing i remember about him is looting..abusing Nigerians,corruption,lack of respect for fundamental human rights,wrong execution of Ken-Saro Wiwa and anybody who opposed Abacha's authority........the country was a big mess and pple lived in fear.....little wonder Nigerians were rejoicing over his death.

OP take down that picture....he's not a great leader at all.

respect

Taaaaaaaaa

0b100100111:
God bless Sani Abacha!

The worst democratic regime is better than the best military regime.

I remembered how we celebrated in the street when this man died. It was like a blessing to Nigerians.


Fast forward to this day and the condition of Nigerian state....

I think we miss him

what is there to remember about Sani Abacha