Nigeria: Abdulsalami: MKO Abiola died of natural causes, not poisoning
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has dismissed claims that the late Chief Moshood Abiola was poisoned, saying an international autopsy attributed his death to natural causes.
In Chapter 21 of his new book _Call of Duty_, launched in Abuja to mark his 84th birthday, Abubakar said Abiola collapsed during a June 7, 1998 meeting with a U.S. delegation led by Undersecretary Tom Pickering and Assistant Secretary Susan Rice.
“I do not believe Abiola was poisoned,” Abubakar wrote. “The family requested an autopsy and we assembled American, British, Nigerian and Canadian pathologists. The report attributed his death to natural causes.”
He noted Abiola had long-standing health issues, including hypertension and heart disease, confirmed by a 1994 radiological report showing an enlarged heart consistent with hypertensive cardiac disease.
Quoting Rice’s memoir and Pickering’s BBC interview, Abubakar recounted that Abiola began coughing during the meeting, complained of heat, and became distressed before being rushed to the State House clinic, where he died despite doctors’ efforts.
Abubakar said he informed Abiola’s family immediately and argued that allowing the U.S. delegation to see Abiola prevented later allegations of a cover-up.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who attended the book launch, revealed Abubakar was arranging Abiola’s release when he died. “Kola was already in Abuja to pick up his father when the unexpected happened,” Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo also praised Abubakar for quickly releasing political prisoners and managing Nigeria’s transition after Sani Abacha’s death, and recounted how Abubakar’s outreach to community leaders helped preserve the Land Use Act despite early opposition.
Abubakar’s former Chief Security Officer, Maj. Gen. Abdulrasheed Aliyu, said the ex-Head of State rejected pressure from military colleagues to extend his six-month transition programme, insisting he would stick to his decision to hand over to civilians.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan also commended Abubakar for his role in restoring democracy in 1999.
