‘Our man is dead,’ Obasanjo recalls Abdulsalami’s call after Abiola’s death

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday revisited one of the most tense moments in Nigeria’s political history, recalling how former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, informed him of the death of Chief MKO Abiola in 1998.

Obasanjo spoke in Abuja at the Presidential Villa during activities marking Abdulsalami’s 84th birthday and the launch of three books, including his autobiography, Call of Duty.

Abdulsalami took over power after the death of Gen. Sani Abacha in June 1998 and later supervised Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Obasanjo, who became the main beneficiary of that transition when he was elected president, said Abdulsalami inherited a country covered by political uncertainty but managed the situation with care.

“You emerged from the clouds and carefully proceeded to untangle the nation politically. Political prisoners were released, and I was, as has been said by the President of the Senate, the beneficiary of that,” Obasanjo said.

The former president said Abdulsalami also worked towards securing the release of Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

According to Obasanjo, Abdulsalami kept him regularly informed about efforts to free Abiola and asked him to relay messages to the family.

He said Abiola’s son, Kola, was already in Abuja to receive his father when the unexpected happened.

“Kola was already in Abuja to pick up his father when the unexpected happened. I remember you telling me on the telephone, ‘Our man is dead,’” Obasanjo said.

Abiola died in July 1998, shortly after Abacha’s death, deepening the national crisis that had followed the annulment of the June 12 election.

Obasanjo praised Abdulsalami for handling the aftermath of Abiola’s death “dexterously” and ensuring that the country did not descend into deeper instability.

He said within less than one year of assuming office, Abdulsalami returned Nigeria to democratic rule.

The former president noted that 27 years after the 1999 transition, Nigeria’s civil rule remains intact.

Obasanjo said Abdulsalami should be remembered not only as the man who initiated the process that restored democracy, but also as one of those who helped sustain it.

He also used the occasion to pay tribute to four military leaders he said made major contributions to Nigeria’s survival and development.

He listed them as former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; the late Gen. Murtala Muhammed; the late Col. Adekunle Fajuyi; and Abdulsalami.

“They are all not perfect human beings. They all made mistakes, but they all made contributions without which we would not have been able to have the Nigeria of today,” Obasanjo said.

“Let me emphasise that I am talking of military leaders, not Nigerian leaders. Military Nigerian leaders. And let me begin by saying I am an eyewitness and a direct participant in almost all the actions and activities of the four of them.”

Earlier, Obasanjo drew laughter from guests when he jokingly told Abdulsalami that he would live to celebrate 100 years, but that he and Gowon would not be alive to witness it.

“Congratulations. You will reach 90. And I will be there. You will reach 100. I and General Gowon will not be there,” he said.

Abdulsalami’s autobiography, **Call of Duty**, is one of the books launched at the event.

The book focuses on his role in Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democracy after years of political crisis triggered by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.