Recounts the turbulent days after Abacha’s demise, says death stopped Abacha from retiring him
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), has revealed that the late General Sani Abacha was planning a major reshuffle of the military high command before his sudden death in June 1998.
He also explained why installing the winner of the 12 June 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, as president when he assumed office was far more complicated than many Nigerians believed.
In excerpts from his autobiography Call to Duty, Abdulsalami recounted that on 7 June 1998, a day before Abacha’s death, the Head of State summoned him and informed him of plans to reorganise the Service Chiefs, asking him to recommend officers for the positions.
According to him, he declined the request, reminding Abacha that on a previous occasion he had sought his advice on appointments only to ignore his recommendations.
He said Abacha subsequently began mentioning names himself and unexpectedly asked who should succeed him as Chief of Defence Staff, a development he interpreted as a sign that he was about to be retired after nearly 35 years in service.
“That meant I was going to be retired. There was no other way to interpret that,” he wrote.
The former military ruler said he neither sought explanations nor asked about his own fate, leaving the issue entirely in Abacha’s hands.
The Day Abacha Died
The following morning, he said he received an urgent summons to the Presidential Villa and initially feared he was being assigned to represent Abacha at an ECOWAS summit in Togo. In his haste, he left home in a tracksuit and slippers.
On arrival, he found Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi already waiting. Both men were later shocked to discover that they had been locked inside the waiting room.
After some time, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, arrived and informed them that Abacha had died.
Abdulsalami said he proceeded to the late ruler’s residence, where he personally saw the body, prayed for him and joined other top officials, including then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Babagana Kingibe, in discussions on the way forward.
According to him, Justice Uwais advised that a new Head of State be chosen first to avoid a vacuum before the death was publicly announced.
Arrangements were also made for Abacha’s burial in Kano.
Succession Crisis and Internal Power Struggles
Abdulsalami disclosed that some members of what he described as an “inner caucus” were more interested in who would succeed the late ruler than in preparations for his burial.
“Little did we know that the ‘inner caucus’ had their plans, and the burial was just a decoy to perfect whatever they had up their sleeves. While we were in Kano, they were already preparing to swear in their preferred choice,” he wrote.
He credited the then Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Mike Akhigbe, and Major-General Sarki Mukhtar, GOC 1 Division, with frustrating the plot.
According to him, both officers ensured that no irregular takeover took place.
The former Head of State further revealed that some officers sought his support for Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi to emerge as Head of State, but he rejected the move.
He said the eventual contest came down to himself and Lt-General Jeremiah Useni, with members of the Provisional Ruling Council voting in his favour.
“I won the vote. That was how I became the 11th Nigerian Head of State,” he wrote.
Emotional Toll and National Challenges
Abdulsalami recalled that the news of his emergence deeply affected his family, with his daughter, Rahmatu, crying throughout the day and asking why “the whole trouble of Nigeria” had been placed on his shoulders.
He said the enormity of the task kept him awake for days.
According to him, Nigeria faced multiple challenges, including political uncertainty, tensions within the military following the detention and conviction of Lt-General Oladipo Diya and others over an alleged coup plot, and growing agitation over Abiola’s continued detention.
He said some activists demanded Abiola’s release and installation as president based on the annulled 12 June 1993 election, while others wanted the restoration of elected officials from the Third Republic.
On the economic front, he said the country was in severe distress, with non-functional refineries, heavy dependence on imported petroleum products, and persistent fuel queues.
He disclosed that his administration inherited outstanding commitments estimated at $3 billion, excluding debt service, while crude oil sold for less than $10 per barrel.
He added that multiple exchange rates created opportunities for abuse, while tensions were rising in the Niger Delta.
Engagement With NADECO
Seeking a political solution, Abdulsalami said he invited leaders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to the Presidential Villa on 29 June 1998.
Those present included Chief Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Ayo Opadokun, Senator Ben Obi and Senator Francis Okpozo.
He said Adesanya, who led the delegation, insisted that Abiola should be released immediately and installed as president, warning that there could be no resolution without this.
However, Abdulsalami maintained that the situation was more complex than many believed.
Although Abiola was widely regarded as the winner of the election, he noted that several of his supporters had served in Abacha’s government and participated in the transition programme.
He also pointed out that members of the newly elected National Assembly under Abacha’s transition opposed any attempt to revalidate 12 June, arguing that they also held electoral mandates.
“Releasing Abiola and making him President was not going to be as smooth and easy as many imagined,” he wrote.
He added that dialogue with June 12 activists became central to efforts to restore Nigeria to democratic rule.
Inside the 1993 Military Takeover
Abdulsalami also provided new insights into the November 1993 military takeover that brought General Abacha to power.
He said he was unaware of the coup plans and only learned of his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff from a newspaper embargo list.
He recounted his long-standing relationship with Abacha, dating back to their teenage years during inter-school football competitions in Northern Nigeria.
Both men later attended the same military selection board and fought on the same side during the civil war, with Abacha commanding the 95 Battalion and Abdulsalami commanding the 84 Battalion.
He said that as General Ibrahim Babangida prepared to step aside in 1993, Abacha verbally informed him of proposed appointments, but no formal communication followed.
This led to months of uncertainty and speculation.
The confusion ended on 26 August 1993 when radio announcements named Lt-General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau as Chief of Army Staff and Lt-General Oladipo Diya as Chief of Defence Staff.
Transition, Coup Rumours and Abacha’s Rise
Following his posting to the National War College, Abdulsalami said he remained in contact with Abacha, then Minister of Defence.
He disclosed that shortly before the overthrow of the Interim National Government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, he received warnings about a possible coup.
“These Army guys are thinking of a coup. Let me tell you that the Navy would not be a part of it,” he quoted Rear Admiral Suleiman Saidu as saying.
He also said retired Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua alerted him to rumours of Shonekan’s removal, although he had no confirmation.
On 17 November 1993, he said television announcements confirmed that Shonekan had resigned.
He later observed unusual military activity around Abacha’s residence and was informed that security was being deployed for the new Commander-in-Chief.
“I told him he was foolish and left him,” he wrote.
Shortly afterwards, Abacha informed him that the takeover had taken place.
Despite pressure to attend meetings at the Flag Staff House, Abdulsalami said he refused to go without formal invitation.
Eventually, he was invited by Abacha and asked whether he would accept appointment as Chief of Army Staff.
He agreed on two conditions: that he would never learn of his retirement via radio and that he would always be allowed to tell Abacha the truth.
Abacha reportedly accepted.
Mbeki: Abdulsalami Resisted Temptation of Power
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki praised Abdulsalami for resisting the temptation to cling to power and guiding Nigeria back to democracy within 11 months.
He said Abdulsalami demonstrated “great wisdom, foresight and statesmanship” in managing the transition after Abacha’s death.
“He placed the interests of his country first and overcame the temptation and allure of power,” Mbeki said.
Obasanjo: Four Leaders Shaped Modern Nigeria
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also praised Abdulsalami, alongside Generals Yakubu Gowon and Murtala Mohammed, and Lt-Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, for shaping modern Nigeria.
He described Abdulsalami as “a great military leader, an officer and a gentleman, a patriot and a nationalist, an elder statesman and a peacemaker.”
Obasanjo said Abdulsalami calmly guided Nigeria through a difficult transition following Abacha’s death.
He also noted that political prisoners were released during his administration, and efforts were made to secure the release of Chief MKO Abiola.
Three books were launched in Abdulsalami’s honour at the event, held on the eve of his 84th birthday.