Abdulsalami Breaks Silence on Abiola’s Death, Says Autopsy Ruled Out Poisoning

Abdulsalami Breaks Silence on Abiola’s Death, Says Autopsy Ruled Out Poisoning

Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has dismissed longstanding allegations that the late Chief MKO Abiola was poisoned, insisting that medical investigations conducted after the business mogul’s death concluded that he died of natural causes.

Abdulsalami made the revelation in Chapter 21 of his newly launched autobiography, Call of Duty, which was unveiled on Saturday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during events marking his 84th birthday.

The 264-page memoir provides fresh insight into the death of MKO Abiola, widely regarded as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, as well as other key events that shaped Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democracy.

According to Abdulsalami, allegations that Abiola was poisoned are not supported by available medical evidence. He stated that the family of the late politician requested an autopsy after his death and that a team of American, British, Nigerian and Canadian pathologists was assembled to conduct the examination.

“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,” he wrote.

The former military leader explained that Abiola had been dealing with health challenges long before his death, including hypertension and a heart-related condition. He referenced a radiology report dated September 28, 1994, prepared by Colonel (Dr.) O. Awofeso, then Chief Consultant Radiologist at the Nigerian Army Defence Hospital, Sokoto, which reportedly showed that Abiola had an enlarged heart and signs of hypertensive cardiac disease.

Abdulsalami recounted that Abiola died on July 7, 1998, while meeting a visiting United States delegation led by then Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Tom Pickering, and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice.

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Drawing from Rice’s memoir, Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For, Abdulsalami said Abiola began coughing shortly after the meeting started. Rice reportedly noticed that Abiola’s ankles were swollen and that his coughing became increasingly severe during the discussion.

As his condition worsened, Abiola complained that he felt unusually warm and requested stronger air conditioning. A doctor was summoned and reportedly concluded that he was suffering a heart attack.

Abdulsalami also cited Pickering’s account of the incident, in which the diplomat recalled that Abiola developed breathing difficulties after visiting the restroom and appeared visibly distressed. According to Pickering, Abiola was moved to a couch, removed his shirt and asked for more ventilation before medical personnel arrived.

“A doctor arrived within 10 minutes and called for immediate hospital attention. We all helped to put him in a car. There was no ambulance immediately available. We followed him to the clinic of the Head of State of Nigeria, where doctors immediately began to work on him, but unfortunately their efforts were unsuccessful,” Pickering was quoted as saying.

The retired general recalled receiving the shocking news from his Chief Security Officer, Abdulrasheed Aliyu, who accompanied the American officials to the meeting.

“Aliyu, my CSO, called me. As soon as I picked, he said, in a shaky voice, that there was a problem. I asked: ‘What problem again?’ He said Abiola was dead. My head went blank,” Abdulsalami wrote.

He added that informing Abiola’s family was one of the most difficult moments of the ordeal, noting that one of Abiola’s daughters became overwhelmed with emotion and had to be comforted by Susan Rice.

One of the most significant revelations in the memoir is Abdulsalami’s claim that efforts to secure Abiola’s release were already underway before his sudden death. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who spoke at the public presentation of the book, confirmed that discussions regarding Abiola’s freedom had reached an advanced stage.

According to Obasanjo, Abdulsalami had maintained communication with members of the Abiola family, while Abiola’s son, Kola Abiola, was already in Abuja as arrangements for his father’s release progressed. The disclosure is likely to reignite debate over one of the most controversial chapters in Nigeria’s political history.

Abdulsalami argued that permitting the American delegation access to Abiola ultimately helped dispel conspiracy theories surrounding his death.

“If we had not allowed the American delegation to see him and he had died in custody, it would have been a different story. It would have been insinuated that he had long died and we were trying to cover it up,” he stated.

The former Head of State also disclosed that former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida never discussed the annulment of the June 12 election with him. According to Abdulsalami, despite widespread assumptions that he was involved in the decision-making process, he only learned about the annulment like many other Nigerians.

The retired general also used the memoir to refute allegations that he received $500 million following the death of General Sani Abacha.

“I want to put it on record that nobody gave me $500 million or any amount, bigger or smaller.

“Is it possible to collect half a billion dollars in cash and only one person in the world would know about it?” he asked.

He described the allegation as baseless and lacking any factual foundation.

Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12 election, remained in detention after declaring himself president in 1994. His death on July 7, 1998, barely a month after the death of General Sani Abacha, triggered widespread speculation and controversy, with many Nigerians believing he was prevented from reclaiming the mandate many considered rightfully his.

Abdulsalami later assumed leadership of the country and oversaw Nigeria’s transition to democratic rule, eventually handing over power to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.

With the release of Call of Duty, Abdulsalami has offered one of the most detailed insider accounts yet of the events surrounding MKO Abiola’s death, the June 12 crisis, and Nigeria’s return to democracy.

Abdulsalami Breaks Silence on Abiola’s Death, Says Autopsy Ruled Out Poisoning