Ali Baba: “I Almost Got Killed Because Of My Joke About General Abacha”

Veteran Nigerian comedian Ali Baba recently shared a harrowing experience from the 1990s during a guest appearance on the Leadership Podcast, detailing how a seemingly innocuous joke almost cost him his life under the authoritarian rule of General Sani Abacha.

Reflecting on a tense moment at an event in Abuja, Ali Baba recalled addressing then-President Abacha while hosting a performance by the Akwa Ibom cultural group. With a touch of humor, he remarked to Abacha, “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 performance?” This direct confrontation sparked an immediate reaction, as Abacha removed his sunglasses and whispered to an aide.

As security personnel began to accumulate backstage, Ali Baba realized the gravity of the situation. In a swift decision to protect himself, he moved closer to Abacha. In a surprising turn of events, the general attempted to ease the tension with humor, to which Ali Baba playfully responded, “Don’t worry, sir, let them arrest me here.” This lighthearted exchange managed to elicit a rare smile from the notoriously strict leader.

Abacha’s reign from 1993 until his death in 1998 was characterized by significant political repression, where dissent was met with severe consequences, including imprisonment and torture. Ali Baba’s anecdote serves as a poignant reminder of the fine line between humor and peril during one of Nigeria’s most tumultuous political eras.