Veteran Nigerian comedian, Ali Baba, recently shared a heart-stopping experience on the ‘Leadership Podcast,’ where a joke about former military leader, General Sani Abacha, almost cost him his life.
During a performance in Abuja, Abacha’s signature dark Rayban sunglasses inspired Ali Baba’s quip, “Your Excellency, sir, it’s almost 10 pm, why are you wearing dark shades? Remove this shade, nah, or don’t you want to see their performances?”
This bold remark caught Abacha’s attention, who then removed his glasses, spoke to his aide, and ordered DSS officers to wait for Ali Baba backstage. Noticing the DSS presence, Ali Baba cleverly diffused the tense situation by sitting next to Abacha, prompting Abacha to respond with jokes and questions about Ali Baba’s reluctance to go backstage.
It’s no surprise that Ali Baba’s courage and wit saved him, considering General Sani Abacha’s notorious regime from 1993 to 1998 was infamous for human rights abuses, including imprisoning, torturing, and killing opposition figures.
This close call highlights the risks faced by those who dared to speak out or poke fun at the regime during that time.
