Drama At The Villa: Ex-Head Of State Reveals What Happened During Abacha’s Death

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has recounted the dramatic events that followed the death of General Sani Abacha in 1998 and how he eventually emerged as Nigeria’s military leader.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Abdulsalami made the disclosure in his autobiography, Call of Duty, which is set to be unveiled in Abuja as part of activities marking his 84th birthday.

In the book, the retired general said he was initially misinformed that the late Head of State wanted to see him on the morning of June 8, 1998.

According to him, upon arriving at the Presidential Villa, he was unexpectedly confined to a room for over an hour without any explanation.

He said he remained there until the then Inspector-General of Police, the late Ibrahim Coomassie, arrived and opened the door.

The incident occurred shortly after Abacha’s death, a development that significantly altered Nigeria’s political trajectory.

Published by Cable Books, an imprint of Cable Media & Publishing Ltd, the autobiography provides fresh insight into the transition period that followed Abacha’s demise.

The book is being distributed nationwide by Rovingheights Bookstores and is also available on Amazon.

Abdulsalami wrote that he received an early morning call informing him that Abacha wished to see him. He initially assumed it might be related to a possible trip to Togo for an ECOWAS meeting.

He explained that at the time, Lt-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi was already detained over an alleged coup plot, making him the de facto number two in government and a frequent stand-in for official engagements.

He said he instructed his orderly to prepare his travel bag before receiving a second call insisting the Head of State wanted to see him urgently.

On arrival at the Villa, he was told Abacha was in his office, which he found unusual given the early hour. He was then directed to wait in a room, despite normally being granted immediate access.

After waiting for some time, he was joined by Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi. Both men waited for about an hour before deciding to leave the room, only to discover it had been locked.

Abdulsalami said he became suspicious that something unusual was happening but could not immediately understand the situation.

The door was later opened by the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Coomassie, who asked them to accompany him. It was then that he was informed that Abacha had died.

He described the news as shocking and said he was taken to see the late leader’s body, which he confirmed before praying for him and leaving the room.

Although he did not state who ordered the door to be locked, he suggested that certain military officers may have had “other intentions” during the unfolding events.

Following Abacha’s death, Abdulsalami was selected as his successor by the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC).

He later oversaw a brief transition programme that eventually led to the return of civilian rule in May 1999, when power was handed over to President Olusegun Obasanjo.