- Insists MKO Abiola Was Not Poisoned, Cites International Autopsy Findings “Something Was Fishy,” Former Head Of State Recalls Final Hours Of Abacha Regime
- Tinubu, Shettima, Former Leaders Celebrate Ex-Military Ruler At 84
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has lifted the veil on two of the most controversial episodes in Nigeria’s political history — the deaths of former military ruler, General Sani Abacha, and the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.
In a revealing new autobiography unveiled in Abuja on Saturday, Abdulsalami recounted how he was mysteriously locked inside a waiting room at the Presidential Villa moments before learning that Abacha had died and dismissed long-standing claims that MKO Abiola was poisoned while in detention.
The disclosures, contained in his 264-page autobiography, A Call of Duty, came as political leaders, elder statesmen and dignitaries from across the country gathered to celebrate his 84th birthday and honour his role in Nigeria’s democratic transition.
The event, held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, attracted top government officials, former presidents, senior military officers, diplomats and political leaders.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who described Abdulsalami as one of Nigeria’s foremost democratic pathfinders and a statesman whose leadership helped steer the nation through one of its most critical political crossroads.
The Morning Abacha Died
One of the most striking revelations in the autobiography is Abdulsalami’s detailed account of the tense hours leading to the announcement of General Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998.
According to him, he received an urgent telephone call early that morning informing him that the Head of State wanted to see him at the Presidential Villa.
At the time, the late Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya, who was Abacha’s deputy, was in detention over an alleged coup plot, making Abdulsalami effectively the second most powerful figure in the military government.
Recalling the events, he wrote:
“On Monday, 8 June, I received a call very early in the morning that he (Abacha) wanted to see me. I quietly prayed that he would not send me to Togo where there was going to be an ECOWAS summit. I was tired of going everywhere.”
He explained that because of the urgency of the summons, he left his residence wearing a tracksuit and slippers instead of his military uniform.
However, what appeared to be a routine meeting soon turned into one of the most dramatic moments of his life.
Upon arriving at the Villa, he was directed to a waiting room and told that Abacha was in his office.
What followed, he said, immediately raised suspicions.
“After waiting for about half an hour, I reasoned that it was odd. Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi joined me shortly after. We waited for about an hour. I decided to go and see Abacha by any means because I could not understand why I should be kept that long. To my greatest surprise, the door of the waiting room had been locked.”
The former Head of State disclosed that he and the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, remained confined until the late Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, arrived and asked them to follow him.
It was only then that he received the shocking news.
“After some time, the door was opened and the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, came in. He said: ‘Let’s go.’ We walked towards the residence and I informed him that I was told Abacha was at the office. It was at this stage that he informed me that Abacha was dead. I was shocked.”
Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding the incident, Abdulsalami admitted that the events left him with lingering doubts.
According to him, the entire episode created the impression that “something was fishy” about the circumstances surrounding those final hours.
Abacha’s death marked a turning point in Nigeria’s history, ending nearly five years of military rule and paving the way for the democratic transition that culminated in the inauguration of a civilian government in 1999.
Abiola Was Not Poisoned
In another major revelation contained in Chapter 21 of the autobiography, Abdulsalami rejected claims that MKO Abiola was poisoned while in detention.
The assertion has remained one of the most enduring controversies surrounding the death of the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.
According to Abdulsalami, an autopsy conducted by pathologists from four different countries found no evidence of poisoning and concluded that Abiola died from natural causes.
The former Head of State recalled that Abiola collapsed during a meeting with a visiting American delegation led by Mr. Tom Pickering, then United States Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and Ms. Susan Rice, then Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
His account challenges years of speculation and conspiracy theories that have surrounded the circumstances of Abiola’s death since July 7, 1998.
Nation Celebrates Democratic Transition Leader
Beyond the historic revelations, the occasion served as a celebration of Abdulsalami’s legacy as the military leader who supervised Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
Speakers at the event praised his contributions to national unity, democratic governance, conflict resolution and peace-building efforts across Africa.
A major highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of three books chronicling his life, service and statesmanship.
The books are A Call of Duty: My Autobiography, Mediating For Peace In Africa: A Festschrift In Honor Of General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, and Nigeria’s Grand Patriot: Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR.
For many attendees, the autobiography’s disclosures offered more than historical reflection. They provided a rare glimpse into the inner workings of power during one of Nigeria’s most turbulent periods and reopened discussions on events that shaped the nation’s democratic evolution.
More than two decades after he handed over power to a democratically elected government, Abdulsalami remains one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s contemporary history. And with the publication of A Call of Duty, he has once again placed himself at the centre of conversations about the country’s most defining political moments.
