OBJ Is The Only Pres Who Had Succeeded, Up Till Today, In Bringing An American Pres To Nigeria- Adebayo Adeolu

Author and historian Adebayo Adeolu has shed new light on the dynamics of Nigeria’s military era during an extensive interview on The Edmund Obilo Programme. Speaking on a wide range of political and historical issues, Adeolu revisited events surrounding the Abacha years, the June 12 struggle, and the tensions that shaped Nigeria’s governance in the 1990s.

In the course of explaining the political weight of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Adeolu remarked that, “Obasanjo is the only president who has succeeded, up till today, in bringing an American president to Nigeria.” — Adeolu This comment formed part of his broader argument about Obasanjo’s unique global stature and why military rulers of the time sought his legitimacy and international influence.

Adeolu defended the contextual framing in his book, insisting that military regimes operate under an entirely different structure from civilian governments. He argued that the Abacha government, like military governments elsewhere, responded harshly to dissent because even mild criticism was often interpreted as treason. He maintained that those who openly confronted the regime—including Obasanjo and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua—did so at great personal risk, especially at a time when returning soldiers experienced PTSD and were highly sensitive to perceived threats.

He also explained that Abacha initially attempted to collaborate with civilian leaders but turned to strict military control when agitation persisted. Adeolu added that misrepresentations of Abacha’s actions have lingered for nearly three decades, and his book sought to provide context rather than glorification. According to him, many allegations—ranging from political assassinations to corruption—were shaped by incomplete information and actions taken independently by security operatives.

Adeolu concluded that understanding that era requires acknowledging both the complexities of military authority and the political pressures that defined the period.

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