The Incident with Colonel Gaddafi: A Lesson in Sovereignty

Recently, I shared an account of historical events that was challenged by Nigeria’s former Foreign Minister and the respected elder Alhaji Sule Lamido. However, when I presented clear, verifiable evidence to support my version, Alhaji Lamido, a former Governor of Jigawa, publicly acknowledged that my recollections were indeed accurate.

Following this exchange, I received several calls from those involved, requesting me to elaborate further on the events and reveal more details that have remained hidden from the Nigerian public.

One of the most telling moments in African diplomacy occurred when the Burkinabe President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, breached protocol by approaching the newly sworn-in Ghanaian President, John Mahama, with a weapon. This act once again highlights the distinction between Nigeria and Ghana and underscores Nigeria’s status as the regional superpower. Such a breach would never happen in Nigeria.

In fact, a similar situation occurred with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi during President Obasanjo’s administration—twice. On both occasions, Gaddafi attempted to overstep, but was quickly stopped and put in his place.

The first incident happened during the African Heads of Government Summit on Roll Back Malaria, held on April 25, 2000, in Abuja. Gaddafi’s female bodyguards tried to bring weapons into the International Conference Center. However, they were stopped by President Obasanjo’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), who had a heated argument with them before disarming them at gunpoint. Only after this were the bodyguards allowed to enter alongside Gaddafi.

The second incident, however, was far more dramatic—and it was, in fact, a carefully orchestrated setup. It took place during the Africa-South America Summit in November 2006. Gaddafi arrived in Abuja on November 28, 2006, with a convoy of five large planes, which unloaded around fifty cars. The problem? The cars were filled with weapons.

At Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Nigerian officials informed Gaddafi and his 200+ guards that they could not leave the airport with the cars and weapons. The weapons had to be returned to the planes, under the supervision of the Nigerian Army. Gaddafi, furious at the situation, declared that if he couldn’t take his weapons, he would simply walk into Abuja.

Femi Fani-Kayode, who was designated by President Obasanjo to welcome Gaddafi, grew concerned and contacted the President. Obasanjo, who was en route to Lagos, reassured Fani-Kayode that he would resolve the issue through diplomatic means. He instructed Fani-Kayode to handle the situation, saying in Yoruba, “You are in charge. Be polite, but those weapons are not coming into Abuja.”

With those instructions, Obasanjo proceeded to Lagos, leaving Fani-Kayode to handle the standoff. As the tense discussions continued, Gaddafi threatened to return to Libya, but Fani-Kayode, standing firm, calmly responded, “We would rather have you stay, but if you choose to go, we understand.” Eventually, Gaddafi relented. He agreed to have all the weapons returned to the planes under the supervision of the Nigerian Army.

This was how Nigeria asserted its sovereignty. Not by allowing a young, unelected junta leader from Burkina Faso to flout diplomatic norms in Nigeria—something he would never dare to do to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

To add another layer of intrigue, when Gaddafi was eventually allowed into Abuja, his guards performed a strange ritual. They slaughtered a ram and spilled its blood in front of the door to the guest house, which had been prepared for him. Gaddafi then stepped over the blood into the house, and, in a display of authority, insisted that no one else could enter after him.

This was the moment that showed the difference between a country that stands firm on its principles and one that allows itself to be bullied.