Maryam Abacha, widow of former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has come down hard on the people who claim and believe her husband stole all the billions recovered from his coffers.
Between $3bn and $5bn is reported to have been so recovered especially from abroad.
But speaking on the matter on Sunday on TVC, the Maryam said Nigerians believed the looting story because they were fools, saying: “And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything.”
She also also claimed that funds her husband allegedly secured for Nigeria disappeared shortly after his death.
“And the monies that my husband kept for Nigeria, in a few months, the monies vanished. People are not talking about that,” she said.
According to ‘The Punch’, Mrs. Abacha criticised the continued focus on her husband nearly three decades after his death, questioning the motivations behind the scrutiny.
“Who is the witness of the monies that were being stashed? Did you see the signature or the evidence of any monies stashed abroad?” she asked.
“Why are you blaming somebody? Is that tribalism or a religious problem or what is the problem with Nigerians?” she asked. “Why are we so bad towards each other? Because somebody is a northerner or a southerner, somebody is a Muslim or a Christian… It’s not fair.”
She also directed criticism at the media, urging journalists to play a more constructive role.
“People are not that bad. Twenty-seven years ago, and you are still talking about Abacha. He must be very powerful and loved by Nigerians. We thank God for that,” she said.
Responding to comments about Nigeria’s relatively stable economy during her husband’s rule, marked by increased foreign reserves and reduced external debt, Mrs. Abacha reiterated her position that there was no wrongdoing.
“So, where did he steal the money from? So where would he have stolen the money from?” she asked. “And because Nigerians are fools, they listen to everything.”
She concluded by calling for unity and mutual respect among Nigerians, saying, “Babangida doesn’t make Nigeria alone. Abacha does not make Nigeria alone. Abiola and everybody, nobody is big enough for Nigeria. Even the single man on the street is very important. We are all human beings, for goodness sake. All these wahala should stop.”
