Abdulsalami Was Working To Secure Abiola’s Release

Abdulsalami Was Working To Secure Abiola’s Release — Obasanjo Reveals
Kola Abiola had arrived in Abuja to receive his father.
He praised Abdulsalami for restoring democracy within a year.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), was actively working to secure the release of Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, before Abiola died in detention.

Obasanjo disclosed that Abiola’s son, Kola Abiola, had already arrived in Abuja to take his father home when news of his death broke.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that he made the revelation on Saturday at the public presentation of three books held in honour of Abdulsalami Abubakar’s 84th birthday. The event, themed “The Legacy of a Statesman @84,” took place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and had President Bola Tinubu in attendance as Special Guest of Honour.

Recalling events surrounding the period, Obasanjo said Abubakar kept him closely informed about efforts to secure Abiola’s release while also passing messages to the family.

“Your next move was how to get MKO Abiola released, and you kept me regularly informed and also related messages to the family.

“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,’” he said.

Obasanjo praised Abdulsalami’s leadership style, describing him as a “great military leader, an officer and a gentleman, a patriot, a nationalist and a peacemaker.”

He noted that Abubakar played a stabilising role in Nigeria following the death of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in 1998, adding that he moved swiftly to address the political uncertainty that followed.

According to him, Abubakar’s administration led to the release of political prisoners and the beginning of Nigeria’s transition back to civilian rule.

“You sagaciously managed the seeming confusion and uncertainty that followed Abacha’s death. You emerged from the cloud and carefully proceeded to untangle the nation. Political prisoners were released, and I was.

“As has been said by the President of the Senate, the National Assembly is a beneficiary of that,” Obasanjo stated.

Abdulsalami Was Working Abiola’s Release

He further commended Abdulsalami for overseeing a swift transition to democratic governance, noting that civilian rule was restored within a year of his assumption of office.

“Within less than one year of your taking office, we had democracy restored,” he added.