Former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has dismissed claims that Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, was poisoned, insisting that an autopsy conducted by pathologists from four countries attributed his death to natural causes.
Abdulsalami made the revelation in his newly launched autobiography titled ‘Call of Duty’, which was publicly presented yesterday in Abuja as part of his 84th birthday celebration.
Writing in Chapter 21 of the 264-page, 27-chapter book, the former Head of State addressed long-standing conspiracy theories surrounding Abiola’s death on July 7, 1998.
“I do not believe Abiola was poisoned. The family requested an autopsy, and we assembled American, British, Nigerian, and Canadian pathologists to conduct it. The autopsy report attributed his death to natural causes,” Abdulsalami wrote.
According to the former military leader, Abiola collapsed during a meeting with a visiting American delegation comprising the then United States Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr. Tom Pickering, and then Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ms. Susan Rice.
The revelation is one of several historic disclosures contained in the autobiography. Abdulsalami also addressed his role in the transition to democracy, the events surrounding the death of General Sani Abacha, and his relationship with former military President General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
On the annulment of the June 12 election itself, Abdulsalami wrote that he heard the news like every other Nigerian, despite being a high-ranking military officer at the time.
“At the time of the annulment, I was at the Army Headquarters as the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP). I was fully engaged in the military in any capacity. I was not even a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), the country’s highest ruling body. I heard of the annulment in the news like every other Nigerian,” he stated.
The former Head of State also disclosed that because of his closeness to Babangida, many people assumed he was privy to every decision made during that era — an assumption he has now firmly rejected.
The three books presented at the event included ‘Call of Duty’, ‘Nigeria’s Grand Patriot’, and ‘Mediating for Peace in Africa’. The occasion drew prominent leaders from across Nigeria and Africa, including President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima; former Heads of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; former South African President Thabo Mbeki; and Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio.
The book launch also raked in millions of naira in donations, with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, donating N500 million; Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, donating N250 million; the Senate contributing N100 million; and the House of Representatives donating N50 million, among other contributions from state governors and commercial banks.
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