Galadima Reveals Why Abacha Stashed Billions, Says Nigerians Are Ignorant

A former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Buba Galadima, has revealed why late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, stashed billions of Nigeria abroad.

In an interview with The Nation, Galadima, who was a top member of the Abacha regime, said the former military ruler was advised to save enough money for Nigeria.

According to Galadima said Saddam Hussein, the late military ruler of Iraq, and Muammar Gaddafi, the deceased ruler of Libya, gave Abacha the advice.

The former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said people who felt Abacha was a monster are all ignorant.

“I have a completely different idea about what you called Abacha loot. I know as a fact that at that time, Abacha with knowledge of key members of his government, who knew about this money being stacked out, he was rightly advised by some of his colleague presidents around the world,” Galadima said.

“Saddam Hussein was one of them. Muammar Gaddafi was one of them. They advised him that there was the likelihood that the US could sanction Nigeria and as such he should save money outside that could last the country, at least, six months, even Nigeria’s account was blocked by the US, there won’t be panic.

“I was a key figure in that government. I was one of the so-called Abacha boys if you must know. I was the Director-General, National Maritime Authority, whereby export and import to Nigeria, including crude, were directly coming under my desk. So, am in position to talk about Abacha and the so-called loot.

“It is true that some Nigerians believe Abacha was a monster and you cannot fault their ignorance. Yes of course. It is based on ignorance.

“But the truth of the matter is that we are running a constitutional government called democracy. People can hold different opinion provided it does not encroach on another’s liberty. What I have said to you now is my own opinion based on what I knew of the government and the man at that time.”