Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar Dismisses MKO Abiola Poisoning Claims, Cites Autopsy by International Pathologists
Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) has firmly rejected allegations that Chief MKO Abiola was poisoned, stating that an autopsy conducted by pathologists from the United States, Britain, Nigeria, and Canada attributed his death to natural causes.
The revelations are contained in Chapter 21 of Abubakar’s 264-page autobiography titled *Call of Duty*, which was publicly presented on Saturday at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja as part of activities marking the former leader’s 84th birthday. President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima as Special Guest of Honour.
In the book, Abubakar detailed the events surrounding Abiola’s death on July 7, 1998. The presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election had been detained since 1994 after declaring himself president.
“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,” Abubakar wrote.
He noted that Abiola had been managing pre-existing medical conditions, including hypertension and a heart ailment, since at least 1994. A radiological report by Colonel (Dr) O. A. Awofeso, then Chief Consultant Radiologist at the Nigerian Army Defence Hospital, Sokoto, dated September 28, 1994, revealed an enlarged heart with “right ventricular preponderance” consistent with hypertensive cardiac disease.
Abubakar described how Abiola collapsed during a meeting with a visiting American delegation that included Mr. Tom Pickering, then U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and Ms. Susan Rice, then Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
Quoting from Rice’s 2019 memoir *Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For*, Abubakar recounted that Abiola began coughing mildly about five minutes into the conversation, which soon became severe. Rice also observed swollen ankles. Abiola complained of feeling hot, requested the air-conditioning be turned up, and a doctor was called who diagnosed a heart attack.
Citing Pickering’s account in a BBC interview shortly after the incident, Abubakar wrote that Abiola had trouble breathing, went into the toilet, and emerged visibly distressed. He was moved to a couch, removed his shirt, and asked for ventilation. A doctor arrived within 10 minutes and recommended immediate hospital attention. Abiola was transported to the Head of State’s clinic in a car, as no ambulance was immediately available. Despite medical efforts, he passed away.
Abubakar said he received the news from his Chief Security Officer, Abdulrasheed Aliyu, who had accompanied the American delegation. “Aliyu, my CSO, called me. As soon as I picked, he said, in a shaky voice, that there was a problem... He said Abiola was dead. My head went blank,” he recalled.
The former military ruler also described informing Abiola’s family, where one of the politician’s daughters broke down in tears and was consoled by Susan Rice. He added that allowing the American delegation to meet Abiola helped counter potential conspiracy theories. “If we had not allowed the American delegation to see him and he had died in custody, it would have been a different story,” he stated.
Abubakar further used the autobiography to address separate allegations that he received $500 million in cash after the death of Gen. Sani Abacha, dismissing the claims as “pure fantasy” and “an absolute imagination.”
“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 questioned.
Abiola’s death occurred just over a month after that of Gen. Sani Abacha, sparking widespread speculation that he was eliminated to prevent his release and possible inauguration. Abubakar succeeded Abacha and oversaw Nigeria’s return to civilian rule, handing over power to President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.
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