Former Nigerian Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has recounted the tense events that followed the death of former military ruler Sani Abacha in 1998, revealing that he was unexpectedly locked in a room at the Presidential Villa before learning of Abacha’s passing.
The revelation is contained in Abdulsalami’s autobiography, Call of Duty, which is set to be launched in Abuja as part of activities marking his 84th birthday.
According to the retired general, he received an early morning call on June 8, 1998, informing him that Abacha wanted to see him. Believing he might be assigned to represent Nigeria at an ECOWAS summit in Togo, he hurried to the Presidential Villa dressed casually in a tracksuit and slippers due to the urgency of the summons.
On arrival, however, he was directed to a waiting room and instructed to remain there. What initially appeared unusual soon became alarming when he discovered that the room had been locked from the outside.
Abdulsalami said he waited alongside Major General Ishaya Bamaiyi for more than an hour before the late Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, arrived and opened the door.
It was only then that Coomassie informed him that Abacha had died. Shocked by the news, Abdulsalami proceeded to the residence, where he viewed the late leader’s body and offered prayers.
In the book, Abdulsalami suggested that some military officers may have had alternative plans during the uncertain hours that followed Abacha’s death, though he did not identify who ordered that he be locked in the room.
Later that same day, the Provisional Ruling Council selected him as Abacha’s successor. He subsequently oversaw a brief transition programme that culminated in the return to democratic rule and the inauguration of Olusegun Obasanjo as president in May 1999.