Abiola died of natural causes after collapsing during meeting with US officials, says Abdulsalami

FORMER Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has rejected longstanding allegations that Chief MKO Abiola was poisoned, stating that a multinational autopsy concluded the June 12 figure died from natural causes.

The account is contained in Call of Duty, Abdulsalami’s autobiography, which was unveiled on Saturday in Abuja during events marking his 84th birthday. The 264-page book details the circumstances surrounding Abiola’s death and addresses other controversies from Nigeria’s transition era.

The book launch, held at the Presidential Villa, drew top dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima as the special guest of honour.

In the memoir, Abdulsalami recounts that Abiola collapsed on July 7, 1998, while meeting with a visiting American delegation led by Tom Pickering, then U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and Susan Rice, then Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

According to him, claims that Abiola was poisoned are inconsistent with findings from an autopsy requested by the family and carried out by medical experts from Nigeria, the United States, Britain and Canada. The examination, he said, found no evidence of foul play and attributed the death to natural causes.

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Abdulsalami also noted that Abiola had battled serious health challenges before his detention. He said it was widely known that the businessman and politician suffered from hypertension and other medical conditions capable of significantly affecting his health.

Citing a medical report prepared in September 1994 by the then Chief Consultant Radiologist at the Nigerian Army Defence Hospital in Sokoto, Col. (Dr.) O. Awofeso, the former military ruler said examinations revealed an enlarged heart and signs consistent with hypertensive cardiac disease.

He further referenced Rice’s 2019 memoir, Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For, which described how Abiola began coughing shortly after discussions commenced. What initially appeared mild reportedly became severe within minutes.

Rice also observed that Abiola’s ankles were swollen, according to Abdulsalami’s account. As the meeting progressed, the politician complained that he felt unusually hot and requested cooler air in the room.

A doctor who was summoned reportedly concluded that Abiola was suffering a heart attack. Abdulsalami also cited comments made by Pickering in a BBC interview after the incident, in which the American diplomat said Abiola struggled to breathe, briefly went to the restroom and returned in visible distress.

Pickering recalled that Abiola was moved to a couch, removed his shirt and asked for more ventilation before medical assistance arrived. He said a doctor recommended urgent hospital treatment, after which those present rushed him to a clinic used by Nigeria’s head of state because an ambulance was not immediately available.

Despite efforts by medical personnel at the facility, Abiola could not be revived and was later pronounced dead.

Abdulsalami said he first learned of the tragedy through a telephone call from his Chief Security Officer, Abdulrasheed Aliyu, who had accompanied the American delegation. He described being stunned by the news and struggling to process what he had just been told.

The former head of state recalled informing Abiola’s relatives about the death, noting that one of his daughters broke down in tears and was comforted by Susan Rice.

He argued that allowing the American officials to meet Abiola helped dispel suspicions that might have arisen had the detainee died without independent witnesses present. According to him, conspiracy theories would have been even more widespread if Abiola had died while still isolated in custody.

The autobiography also addresses accusations that Abdulsalami received $500 million after the death of Gen. Sani Abacha. He dismissed the allegation as entirely fabricated, insisting that he never received such funds.

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Describing the claim as impossible to conceal, he questioned how such a large cash transaction could have occurred without anyone else being aware of it.

Abiola, widely regarded as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, had been detained since 1994 after declaring himself president. His death occurred slightly more than a month after Abacha’s own demise, prompting speculation at the time that he had been prevented from regaining freedom and assuming office.

Following Abacha’s death, Abdulsalami became head of state and supervised Nigeria’s return to democratic rule, eventually handing power to President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.