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Former Head of State, Abdulsalam Abubakar, has disclosed startling details about the events that followed the sudden death of Sani Abacha in June 1998 and how he emerged as Nigeria’s leader.
The revelations are contained in his autobiography, Call of Duty, scheduled for launch in Abuja as part of activities marking his 84th birthday.
In the book, Abdulsalami recounted how he was summoned early on June 8, 1998, under the impression that Abacha wanted to see him. However, upon arrival at the Presidential Villa, he was unexpectedly confined in a waiting room for over an hour without explanation.
He said the situation became more suspicious when he realised the room had been locked from the outside. The former leader noted that Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi was also present during the incident.
According to him, the door was eventually opened by the then Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, who broke the shocking news that Abacha had died.
Abdulsalami described the moment as deeply unsettling, adding that he was initially prevented from getting full details about the circumstances surrounding the death.
He wrote that upon being led to the residence, he insisted on seeing Abacha’s body, after which he offered prayers before leaving the room in shock.
The former Head of State suggested that some military officers may have had “other plans” during the period, though he stopped short of naming anyone responsible for locking him in the room.
Later that same day, Abdulsalami was selected by the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) as Abacha’s successor.
He subsequently initiated a swift transition programme, culminating in the handover of power to a democratically elected government led by Olusegun Obasanjo in May 1999.
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