Former President Olusegun Obasanjo honored his late wife, Stella Obasanjo, recalling her dedicated global efforts to secure his release from prison during the Abacha regime. At the inauguration of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Obasanjo expressed gratitude for Stella’s enduring legacy and Edo State’s tribute through the new medical facility.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo recently reflected on the profound efforts of his late wife, Stella Obasanjo, in securing his release from prison during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. Arrested in 1995 over alleged involvement in a coup plot, Obasanjo faced a challenging four-year imprisonment before his eventual release in 1998, following Abacha's death and under the administration of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City, Obasanjo expressed heartfelt gratitude for Stella's relentless advocacy. He revealed that his wife took extraordinary steps, visiting various global centers of influence—including the Vatican City and France—to rally for his freedom. Stella’s global appeals underscored her commitment and became an essential part of the support network that led to his release.
Obasanjo shared the deep sense of loss felt after Stella’s passing in 2005 due to complications from a surgical procedure, noting how plans for her 68th birthday were cut short by tragedy. He thanked the Edo State government and Governor Godwin Obaseki for honoring Stella’s legacy with the new hospital, which he hailed as a first-class medical facility.
Reflecting on past collaborations with notable officials like former Permanent Secretary John Oyegun, Obasanjo praised the dedication to public service in Edo State, celebrating the hospital as a tribute to his late wife’s enduring impact.
