How I survived in prison, by Obasanjo
FIVE years after he regained his freedom and subsequently became Nigeria's leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday narrated his three-year stay in Yola Prison, Adamawa State.
In the mini-prison memoir, as it can readily be described, Obasanjo told his audience at the 51st World Convention of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International (FGBMFI) in Abuja that courage and hope sustained him.
Obasanjo who frequently resorted to Biblical verses while narrating his ordeal, had goodness for his captors and tormentors as he said: "I have forgiven them because vengeance belongs to God."
The President, who was implicated in a coup plot against the late Gen. Sani Abacha, was imprisoned in 1995, and released shortly after Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) became the head of state in 1998.
Obasanjo in the testimony added that his sojourn in prison offered him an opportunity to learn.
"Until you are there, you cannot imagine what lesson you can learn and how your life can be touched," he said.
Obasanjo said the book of Psalm 54 formed the bulk of his daily devotion, stressing that the verses acquainted him with the saving powers of God in any situation.
According to the President, he had thought that his arrest, detention and sentence were mistakes until he found out that his "tormentors" were carrying out premeditated act.
"But a further study of the books of Joshua, Isaiah, Psalm and Acts of the Apostles, showed that vengeance belongs to God", he said.
Obasanjo remarked that such conviction made him to pray for his tormentors who "I have already forgiven."
Earlier, Senate President Adolphus Wabara had commended the fellowship for its untiring efforts in taking the gospel to the "upwardly mobile, busy executives and public office holders."
Wabara said that the activities of the fellowship were in obedience to Biblical injunction as contained in Mark 16 verse 15 which states: "Go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
The convention which is holding in Africa for the first time, Wabara said, would provide an opportunity for the participants to know more about Nigeria, its people, their culture and values.
He said that contrary to negative stories in the foreign media about Nigeria, the country was peaceful.
"Nigeria is a nation with diverse ethnic and religious groups but together we have a united and common purpose expressing the trinity of freedom, peace and love," he said.
In his speech, International President, Richard Shakarian, said the time for Africa to shine among other continents of the world had come.
Shakarian said that hosting the convention in Africa and Nigeria in particular, was an indication of the great things and changes that God would bring to the continent.
He hinted that the fellowship had the target of leading over 100 million people to God through its activities so that the kingdom of God would be greatly expanded.
The five-day convention will witness business meetings, teachings, luncheons and rallies, with preachers such as the founding Bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide (a.k.a. Winners' Chapel), Dr. David Oyedepo, renowned evangelist Reinhard Bonnke and Charles Asare.
