Obasanjo recalls Abdulsalami’s call informing him of Abiola’s death in 1998

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recalled how General Abdulsalami Abubakar informed him of the death of Chief MKO Abiola in 1998. Obasanjo made the disclosure at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during events marking Abdulsalami's 84th birthday and the launch of three books, including Abdulsalami's autobiography, Call of Duty. Abdulsalami became Head of State after the death of General Sani Abacha in June 1998 and oversaw Nigeria's transition to democracy in 1999. Obasanjo said Abdulsalami had kept him updated on efforts to secure Abiola's release and had asked him to relay messages to Abiola's family.

Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, died in July 1998, shortly after Abacha's death. Obasanjo recounted that Abiola's son, Kola, had already arrived in Abuja to receive his father when Abdulsalami called to say, "Our man is dead." The former president described Abdulsalami's handling of the aftermath as dexterous, preventing further instability. Within less than a year of taking office, Abdulsalami handed over power to an elected government, with Obasanjo emerging as president in 1999.

Obasanjo said Nigeria's civilian rule has remained intact 27 years after the 1999 transition. He credited Abdulsalami not only with initiating the return to democracy but also with helping to sustain it. He also paid tribute to four military leaders he said contributed to Nigeria's survival: Generals Yakubu Gowon and Murtala Muhammed, Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, and Abdulsalami. Obasanjo noted that while none were perfect, their actions helped shape present-day Nigeria. He joked at the event that Abdulsalami would live to 100, but that he and Gowon would not be around to see it.

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